The greenhouse I spoke of in the last post is a no go. There would be too much work involved and the matter of digging close to the house base structure is not something i wish to do at this house. remember, each project we start in this home that involves anything except painting or not removing anything has brought bad effects and more money spent to fix the previous guy's shady work. So I am not going to even think about what would happen if we had to put in a footer for an attached greenhouse- 30 inches below ground level...shiver. No Thank you!
So back to the underground garden idea......
Finally found a picture of the cold frame or "solar pit"or earth berm greenhouse,which ever you would like to call it. i prefer solar pit. It is not really a greenhouse. Being a walk in with cold frame construction on a more larger scale.
This is almost exact to what we are planning to build:
Got a wonderful "hook up" for the cement block from a local company- who wishes to remain anonymous at this point of the stage. Normal retail is around $2.50 a block. We are getting them for 50 cents a block. they may not be all the same color and they may be considered seconds due to color irregularities, but who cares when you are putting it underground and the only eyes to spy them will be those invited into the 'sacred plant pit".
I will be making a tutorial as we go through the process and am not sure if i will submit it for another sites article or share it here. Will depend on whether that site would be interested in this as a tutorial or would prefer an actual article on something else.
We still have the cordwood chicken coop to find a place to build. Zoning knows about the solar pit since I called to ask about regulations- which they are very vague and need the Administrator to approve the project first. So I need to be on my toes and not go against any regulations.
I like the Administrator. I just do not play well with some of the others....
So....Anyone wanna help build this thing? This month? over the next week?
I still need to ask Tractor boy to bring his new toy over and dig the pit for me. he has a front loader and it's only going to be about 3 to 3 1/2 feet deep. Just enough below frost line with room for the cement block.
The 4 poster bed is still not painted. The last weekend was way too nice to stay inside for that. Guess i better find some time this week to get it done before the solar pit gives me more excuses to post pone the chore.
Sweet dreams, Tammie
So back to the underground garden idea......
Finally found a picture of the cold frame or "solar pit"or earth berm greenhouse,which ever you would like to call it. i prefer solar pit. It is not really a greenhouse. Being a walk in with cold frame construction on a more larger scale.
This is almost exact to what we are planning to build:
Got a wonderful "hook up" for the cement block from a local company- who wishes to remain anonymous at this point of the stage. Normal retail is around $2.50 a block. We are getting them for 50 cents a block. they may not be all the same color and they may be considered seconds due to color irregularities, but who cares when you are putting it underground and the only eyes to spy them will be those invited into the 'sacred plant pit".I will be making a tutorial as we go through the process and am not sure if i will submit it for another sites article or share it here. Will depend on whether that site would be interested in this as a tutorial or would prefer an actual article on something else.
We still have the cordwood chicken coop to find a place to build. Zoning knows about the solar pit since I called to ask about regulations- which they are very vague and need the Administrator to approve the project first. So I need to be on my toes and not go against any regulations.
I like the Administrator. I just do not play well with some of the others....
So....Anyone wanna help build this thing? This month? over the next week?
I still need to ask Tractor boy to bring his new toy over and dig the pit for me. he has a front loader and it's only going to be about 3 to 3 1/2 feet deep. Just enough below frost line with room for the cement block.
The 4 poster bed is still not painted. The last weekend was way too nice to stay inside for that. Guess i better find some time this week to get it done before the solar pit gives me more excuses to post pone the chore.
Sweet dreams, Tammie
3 comments:
I can't wait to see how it goes! I've been daydreaming about something like this for awhile, but it's pretty far down on the list, unfortch.
Thanks for posting about this. I have been planning on building a passive solar greenhouse. I have the perfect location for a solar pit. I will be eagerly awaiting the tutorial. I won't get around to mine until late this summer but I want to have it ready for fall.
Well it has been a big bowl of cherries getting this ready to go. I had to run around and get permits from the zoning AND health department. We have private septic and well so the health department had to come out and inspect the property to make sure where i am placing it will not interfere if there is any future need for a different septic spot. The big surprise came when he said our septic is not on file since the house was built in 1949. If he see's any problems with our current septic during his inspection, we will have to "fix" the problem. All I see are $$$ flying out the door. All for putting a place to grow food. Amazing when you think how i can have livestock without any inspections or permits but to grow food in a solar building, I need to paint some green into hands.
I will hear from the inspector on monday. So the project is in a small delay untill then.
The woman who purchased the shed should be picking it up this weekend and the money will go to buying some windows from the habitat for humanity store and for the cement block to go for the solar pit.
I just hope she comes this weekend for it. I need to get that area cleaned up plus get the chicken coop going.
So step one sneek peek. Check with all regulations with zoning before planning the project. LOL.
Post a Comment