The Resourceful Greenhouse: 

To fulfill my goal, of  creating a concept for pre-vocational training for K-12 students with disabilities, I first needed to create the work area. The gardens we developed over the past few years were meant for produce. No seriously, just one type of produce. It wasn't on purpose but it seems like tomatoes were the only thing to ever have luck for us. I sure do enjoy the homemade sauce it creates for my Ratatouille though! 

The hoop houses just weren't going to cut it so off I went to watch videos from This Old House. I drew up my plans, calculated my board feet, researched materials that allowed transparency of UV, and then BAM! Covid-19 hit so it was a mad dash to order all the materials I needed in 1 go. This project would take around 3 weeks to complete since I was also working full-time during construction.

I had never taken on a build of this proportion but had years of experience around seasoned carpenters and overall DIYers through my youth so I knew I had the gumption to succeed.

I had 3 criteria:

1. Make it a 10 foot by 16 foot structure

2. Ensure the main door could fit my tractor wagon

3. Only have lacerations and no broken bones

After hours upon hours of researching greenhouse designs, how to locate them for optimal growing season, endless nights on This Old House, and an addiction to Pinterest, the  build began!

NOTE: If you do not have a carpenters apron - GO BUY ONE! Tool belts are for suckers!

The pride felt having built the foundation and having framed the entirety of the greenhouse, by my design, gave me tremendous gratitude for having the health, grit, skill, and knowledge to complete this venture. This euphoria lasts me to this day as I critique the work I completed and how I may be more efficient the next time. For example, maybe buy or rent a 10 foot ladder instead of standing on the top of a 6 foot ladder with a nail gun while holding a  2x8 above your head....boys are dumb what can I say.

Have you ever driven by a place and said "why does that homeowner have all that garbage laying around their yard". Its simple - it forces resourcefulness. I had decided that our above ground pool, that we adopted upon purchase of this home, had to go - largely because I am terrible at chemistry and could never get the water blue. I digress, why am I talking about this? Oh yes, I am frugal. I tore the pool out so I could use its decking to clad my greenhouse. Due to covid, the decking prices were triple or normal times so  this is how I solved the dilemma. 

Paper cuts hurt right? Wait until you feel the wrath of polyvinyl siding - luckily my OT degree came in "handy" with trauma care and rehab. The polyvinyl was a tedious job that felt like it would never end but it was worth it in the end. The hardest part was figuring out how to attach the polyvinyl to the gable end. I had high hopes in my design to make the gable ends have swinging windows for circulation but I ran out of decking...plus, I wanted to have it enclosed sooner than later.

Being  in Ohio, I figured that a brick overlay of OH next to the greenhouse and shed might give a nice aesthetic - so after many attempts I was able to get it close enough. Oh yea! The bricks were free.

The last thing I needed to do was to create shelves in the greenhouse. I did this with 4x4's from the pool deck demo and some old hog wire fence I had laying around. Have I mentioned that I am thrifty yet?  Money is meant for vacations, toys, and delicious foods (Bombay Sitar - you are my sanctuary!). 

Total cost <$500. Cost of a comparable greenhouse online $2000+ dollars. Spend some time on This Old House and use what you have laying around. The corrugated polyvinyl was the most expensive part of this build but I wanted it for durability. You could save around $200 if you opt for 9mm plastic however.