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Nifty Thrifty: Make your own greenhouse from old windows  |
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dkelewae
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1310 Posts
Diana
Saint Peters
MO
USA
1310 Posts |
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Maryjane Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
    
2195 Posts
Maryjane
CA
USA
2195 Posts |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
    
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2009 : 12:54:59 PM
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Thanks for the link! Maybe this can be a reality :)
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory |
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NancyV
Farmgirl in Training
 
20 Posts
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2009 : 1:32:23 PM
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Diana, I love when the farmgirls share such great ideas! I've wanted a greenhouse forever, but can't afford them, so this is a fantastic alternative. I always see my neighbors throwing out old windows and doors and figured there must be a good use for them--now I can pick them up and have a plan! Also, I can check with craigslist too! Thanks for the great link.
Nancy Farmgirl Sister #501 |
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LynnMarie
True Blue Farmgirl
    
623 Posts
Lynn
FAIRVIEW HTS
IL
USA
623 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2009 : 07:25:59 AM
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Wow! Just what I was looking for. Thanks. : )
LynnMarie
Bringing the Past Back to Life www.freewebs.com/decampsettlement
"You may never know what results come from your action. But, if you do nothing, there will be no results" -Gandhi |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2009 : 07:58:40 AM
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Thanks for the link, Diana. Sent it to hubby at work...he came home telling me it wasn't built "right" and would blow down in our wind. I felt kind of deflated because I've really been wanting a greenhouse and thought this looked do-able.
He came back in from chores and was sketching something--a plan for a greenhouse! We have 21 old windows we salvaged from an old house years back that have been sitting. So...maybe I'll get something afterall! You started it, girl. Thanks!!!!
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266 http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
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kpaints
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1564 Posts
karen
cheney
wa
1564 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2009 : 08:15:59 AM
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Yes, it was done incorrectly but with a few changes it has lots of potential! A good foundation is absolutely necessary....concrete into the ground for all corner posts and pretreated wood for all dirt exposure is absolutely necessary or all the wood will rot. Just for starters. Ihave wanted to do this for a long time but this is the year. I have a friend with a glass company and could get all the old windows I want. Maybe I will go for the old metal ones so I don't have to paint much. I will have to put my thinking cap on to find the right place for my new greenhouse.....
Find your joy and live it. http://cheneybaglady.blogspot.com/http://www.kpaints.etsy.com FG #377 |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
    
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2009 : 09:11:58 AM
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Hi Girls- I just want to add a few things for you to consider before making a greenhouse out of old windows. About 12 years back DH built me one out of old windows, we thought this would be a great and cheap idea. We both came to realize that was not the case. First off I had 2 young boys and a black lab, I was always fearful of somebody or something falling into the glass. Regulating the tempature in a glass house is horrible, especially with those single pane windows. You must have some sort of shade cloth or your plants will burn up, and coming up with a ventilation system was not easy. Termites love the old wood casings from these old windows. There are lots of other things I could list if I thought about it long enough. I am not saying don't do this, but to really consider all of the negatives that go with this. I do now have a hoop style greenhouse and absolutly love it.
Lillian |
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prairielandherbs
True Blue Farmgirl
    
690 Posts
Maggie
Iowa
USA
690 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2009 : 10:00:43 AM
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Lillian, you have good points!
Our little greenhouse is made of recycled windows. We have two windows in the roof, on both sides of the greenhouse, that can be propped open when it gets really hot, PLUS we put a fan in one side of it and open the door for airflow. ALso we grew a hops plant up one side of it for shade, AND situated it so that it gets shade in the hottest part of the day. Here's a pic if you'd like to see ours:
http://prairielandherbs.blogspot.com/2009/03/as-some-of-you-know-i-maggie-am-writer.html
it IS not cost-efficient to heat in the dead of winter, however - those single panes of glass are not very efficient at all! |
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Mother Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
    
604 Posts
Cindy
Peck
ID
USA
604 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 12:42:59 AM
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Diana, thanks for posting this. It's food for thought. I've salvaged windows from 2 houses in town that were getting torn down. One guy in town has referred to me as "Jew Cindy" because I asked the people who were tearing down the houses if I could have the windows and I even got a few lower cupboards out of one tiny old house. There is even a "tin drawer" in it for storing flour in. Well I digress, sorry. I was going to make hot boxes, but I like this idea better, I just hadn't thought it all the way through, but the pictures help. I'm a visual person. Thanks again and if DH says I can do it, then I'll post pictures.
Cindy
FARMGIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING!!!
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalms 34:1 |
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Nifty Thrifty: Make your own greenhouse from old windows  |
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