Everyone loves fresh vegetables. After spending a significant portion of the previous year in Costa Rica, Krista and Dave were craving a way to continue this kind of healthy diet in the States.
Its easy to buy vegetables at the store. A heck of a lot less work too. However, with pesticides and herbicides used so freely, its hard to know if what you are eating is healthy, or if its even more toxic than preservatives.
The only way to know for sure is to grow your own. In the pacific northwest, that's no easy feat. They had often talked about building a greenhouse, and had even begun a collection of windows from various projects with the intent to assemble them one day as a structure to grow in. But as they do, the project morphed, and they soon ended up short on windows.
Window panes were split to make quick end tables to furnish the Bungalow project, and other windows became transoms for a bathroom, and decor for the wall.
Its easy to buy vegetables at the store. A heck of a lot less work too. However, with pesticides and herbicides used so freely, its hard to know if what you are eating is healthy, or if its even more toxic than preservatives.
The only way to know for sure is to grow your own. In the pacific northwest, that's no easy feat. They had often talked about building a greenhouse, and had even begun a collection of windows from various projects with the intent to assemble them one day as a structure to grow in. But as they do, the project morphed, and they soon ended up short on windows.
Window panes were split to make quick end tables to furnish the Bungalow project, and other windows became transoms for a bathroom, and decor for the wall.
Its incredible what you'll come up with when an idea plants. Its even more amazing when the idea seeds from a piece of wood, or old window. Its that old, modified saying, 'one man's trash, is another man's project'.
Krista had gone to visit an old friend who was remodeling a restaurant on a very short time frame. It was in an ocean front hotel, that had some great windows over looking the ocean and the Promenade. Because she's a professional scavenger, she left with the promise that whole window unit was hers- the catch being, she had to come back with the project people to remove the framework and windows.
Admittedly, this was a larger undertaking than initially anticipated. Realizing how small a crew they were- Just Dave, Krista and Greg- -and how heavy the steel framework for the eleven double-paned windows. Fortunately, in their travels, they had picked up a number of good friends that were always willing to help out. They called up Jackie, and Morgan to come play. Those two rounded out the crew of five that would be removing 30 year old solarium windows on a rainy March morning.
(After a breakfast of Dave's home made chocolate old fashioned donuts and coffee... he really is the best pastry chef!)
The idea behind this project is to build out wood trusses (2x8) that are attached to a stick built structure. The frame of the solarium windows will meet up with the wood framing to create a 225 sq foot attached greenhouse/solarium/three season room.
The north side being the house, the south side being the solarium windows. Each end will need to be crafted of ideas.
They settled on a dutch door on each end to allow airflow, as well as side light 'wing windows' that can also pivot to allow airflow.
The roof structure is most difficult. A glass roof is ideal for light and heat. As good fortune would have it, Shep- a favorite Project Person, had recently bought a beautiful, river front fixer upper that will soon be his forever home.
It happens to be located on the Great Columbia River, and had sat empty for 35 years. Thus, all river facing picture windows needed to be replaced. Serendipitously, those windows are the exact quantity and size of the windows needed to cover the greenhouse.
In exchange for some roof tarping in inclement weather, the windows were procured.
The north side being the house, the south side being the solarium windows. Each end will need to be crafted of ideas.
They settled on a dutch door on each end to allow airflow, as well as side light 'wing windows' that can also pivot to allow airflow.
The roof structure is most difficult. A glass roof is ideal for light and heat. As good fortune would have it, Shep- a favorite Project Person, had recently bought a beautiful, river front fixer upper that will soon be his forever home.
It happens to be located on the Great Columbia River, and had sat empty for 35 years. Thus, all river facing picture windows needed to be replaced. Serendipitously, those windows are the exact quantity and size of the windows needed to cover the greenhouse.
In exchange for some roof tarping in inclement weather, the windows were procured.
The windows were brought back to the workshop, split, and cleaned for installation on the roof top on the greenhouse.
Lots of measuring, and angles to be considered in the framing. Everything needed to line up perfect to prevent leaking. But first, a fence had to be removed. This fences had blown over in the wind, several times. It had been repaired a number of times as well. The problem being, its on the weather side of the building where the winter wind rips down the channel between the house and the fence. That made this a great placement for a sturdy greenhouse.
Before doing any work, clear conversation was had with the neighbors on the fence line. They were equally excited about the project, and they even offered to help!
Before doing any work, clear conversation was had with the neighbors on the fence line. They were equally excited about the project, and they even offered to help!
To support the weight of the windows, a header beam was needed. This was the difficult part of the job. Header beams are heavy, and this one was 30 feet long.
Otherwise, the steel frame, which was in two parts, long and short, went up rather easily with only three people.
Otherwise, the steel frame, which was in two parts, long and short, went up rather easily with only three people.
The next step was to clean all of the solarium glass, and get it installed. They were double paned, and tinted. Some of the aftermarket tinting was peeling, so the tint needed to be removed for plant growth. Once complete, the glass was measured and installed to the correct frame.
Once the glass was in place, both top and bottom, it was time to address the doors. In the process of building, it was determined a dutch door would be the best and most functional type door for ventilation, wheel barrow access, visibility, and asthetics.
Being situated on the south side of the house, it get incredibly hot, as we discovered during the build out. Any ventilation we could access, would be an asset.
The goal was to tie the structure into the house to be inclusive of a whole property. It was decided the lower half of the door would be similar to the garden shed on the other side of the property where it was built.
Being situated on the south side of the house, it get incredibly hot, as we discovered during the build out. Any ventilation we could access, would be an asset.
The goal was to tie the structure into the house to be inclusive of a whole property. It was decided the lower half of the door would be similar to the garden shed on the other side of the property where it was built.
In the end, we were told it represented the Scottish flag, which we also thought was fun.
retail, only With the doors in place, it was time to think about shelving for the inside. The green house needed potting benches on the left, and layers of growing shelves on the right. They needed an estimated 150 feet of vented, linear shelving.
Coincidentally, a local restaurant was going out of business, and an auction was held to liquidate the furnishings and equipment.
Dave, Krista and Sheps wife Leslie showed up to bid on equipment they needed for their green house, and possibly for Shep and Leslie's new river front home.
There, they spotted the booth dividers. Each piece on the ceiling and the dividers were all being auctioned as one lot. Krista struck up a conversation with another bidder looking at the stack of treated 1x1 panels. They both agreed it was too much for their own personal needs, so the agreed not bid against each other, and split the pile at the end.
Dave, Krista and Sheps wife Leslie showed up to bid on equipment they needed for their green house, and possibly for Shep and Leslie's new river front home.
There, they spotted the booth dividers. Each piece on the ceiling and the dividers were all being auctioned as one lot. Krista struck up a conversation with another bidder looking at the stack of treated 1x1 panels. They both agreed it was too much for their own personal needs, so the agreed not bid against each other, and split the pile at the end.
And then there were shelves..
Water, was brought in for a utility sink and sprinkler system. And some an LED string provide light in the evening hours.
Fans were ordered to insert into overhead windows above each door. Thermometers were placed both indoors and out. The record difference so far is 78 degrees outdoors, and 101 degrees inside (with doors closed). The average temperature seems to be about 74f degrees.
It took three months to put it together, but this green house is now producing a variety of micro greens for retail sale through Urban Greens Micro Farm!
Total project cost roughly $1200.
See more finished photos below:
It took three months to put it together, but this green house is now producing a variety of micro greens for retail sale through Urban Greens Micro Farm!
Total project cost roughly $1200.
See more finished photos below: