PaulOdin

Mike, I think your green house is going to end up nicer than my house! Are you sure your wife isn't moving you out?

Paul

momoese

Watch that first step, it's a doosy!

mikevan

Cough. Well... I didn't show you where the bar was going, did I? After some negotiations, we came to an agreement, the wife and I. She gets the half of the property up where the house is. I get the rest - and get carte blanche with what I do on it. When we buy the property next door to build our new house, I get this entire property. Heh - think it's a jungle now? And, because she refuses to live away from our kid's grandparents, where I'd prefer Hawaii or Guam or maybe even Florida (I'd get to play with gators!), she's given me some leeway with my tropical plant obsession.

I think when I am done, her preconceptions will be proven wrong and she'll like what it is. She's not complaining now tho. I could be hanging out in bars, and collecting beer cans and junk cars and whatnot - instead I go play in my sand-box and play with my plants. It would be a nice doghouse tho - perhaps I should carve out a little bunk area and a loo?

The purpose isn't just to make a nice area to winter over my tropicals, but to create in there a permanent home for them - a little rainforest of my favorite tropical plants. I'll likely get some critters down there - we have an abundance of geckos, believe it or not, and perhaps some anoles and treefrogs, a snake or five and whatnot. I'm still pondering what to plant below the coconut palm trees - perhaps SDC nanners, ferns and vanilla orchids. Up topside I'm going to try to get a few dicksonia antarctica treeferns growing - it's a bit hot here for them but in the shade of bamboo and bananas I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Be well,
Mike

imdocrob

Taylor I just bought one that is 6X10for $399 including shipping. I don't know if this is too much for you but if you want to know the website, just let me know.

Mike Lee

Oh my goodness Mike. I just started reading this thread. I can't believe you have a wife that lets you dig moon craters. Maybe she figures if you don't get around to finishing she'll convert it to a swimming pool.

__________________
Mike Lee
Forestville, CA Zone 9

MediaHound

Old thread, but bump for the new members to enjoy!

__________________
Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

Bob

Thanks for bumping this up , I hadn't seen it. Pit greenhouses have been around a while and are cost effective alternatives to a "traditional" one. Seeing Mikevans though, my first thought after having dug graves in N.J. during the 80's through mid 90's is any time you hit sandy soil , that is when walls collapse and the potential for great danger is there. People have been killed. It might not be the same in sandstone , but if you are attempting such a project with out any excavating experience, consult someone who has dug a few holes before.
Story(sp?) publications has a great pit greenhouse primer in their country wisdom bulletins.
Every one should have a copy of Elliot Colemans four season harvest.It's written for organic vegetable production but the season extension and alternative greenhouse examples would benefit banana growers as well.
The idea of using stock panels is another good one that any one could adapt to their own use. For example , I recently was able to get free some field hockey goals being disposed of by a local school. Turned upside down they form a long "A " frame that I can attach 6 mil plastic with "garden clips" . These are a simple C shaped platic clip that will attach sheets of plastic to tubular material.I got mine from Charlies greenhouses. The same could be done with PVC pipe.
Last: No I don't have anything t do with any of these companies but have used them with good result.

__________________

JCDerrick

That's an awesome idea, love the pit - wish we could see finished photos.

And glad to know I'm not the only one dividing up property behind the house with my wife. She insisted on keeping some grass back there.

__________________
Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

Chironex

As a cheap alternative, you can buy an inexpensive greenhouse on eBay for under $120 including shipping. It is freestanding and measures 6x12x6-1/2' high. I got one about a month ago and it works great. I fold the bottom under and set my pots on it to keep it anchored from the wind.

__________________
Scot

Patty in Wisc

Thanks Jarred for bringing this thread up - I never saw it.
I agree with Bob about walls falling in. That's the first thing I thought of when I saw the pic.
When they dug streets here to put new sewer pipe in, they braced all the walls & couple times they caved in before they finished bracing. They had to dig & pull a guy out once. Be careful!!!
I could never afford a greenhouse - too much to heat it. A friend near Denver has a large one & pays around $6,000 in winter for heating it. YIKES

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

buzzwinder

Thanks for bumping this thread Jarred, I had forgotten all about it, last year doing a search for something or other here, I came across this thread and showed the wife, This is a really neat idea, but alas, I still don't have the room to try this, Gotta get a bigger lot!!!

__________________


Bill for my friend

Patty in Wisc

Bill, do you really think this would work in our zone??

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.