GH plans

My DH and I have been trying to decide the best way to build our GH. I want to build a lower wall around the bottom with hay bales then stucco over it. The stucco is free. We also thought of putting in a water heater with radiant heating in the floor. The other idea is to put up a haybale wall on the northend and put on another small room for a pottery studio with sink etc. or use it for a sick are for the plants. I want to put it an area in the front of my house near my huge rainwater tank. It is on the downslope of a hill on the northside. I want to add gutters to collect the water off my roof. Any thoughts/comments? I'm ready for the "WOW your nutty" comments.

I love that idea! Makes me wanna build one like that too! (sometimes I actually wish I had a smaller greenhouse.)

The straw bales/stucco technique has been in use for yrs in the Europe/Mid-East areas. Are you planning on pouring concrete for the floor? Was also wondering how you would attach the upper walls to the lower (straw bale) walls. Have you thought about that yet?

I think it would be a great project...hope you take pics of it as it goes along!

My DH had already thought of the attachment problem. If we don't use hay we can use pumice crete blocks. And we have a cement mixer.(Anniversary present) I think we will have to pour a floor. I don't know any other way to do the radiant flooring-- except in concrete. My Dh said something about making the greenhouse 16 or 18' X 23-25'. Does that sound to small? I also have questions about the height--what do you suggest?

Okay, gotcha on the concrete floor...didn't know if there was another way (I hate mixing concrete!) Not familiar with pumice crete blocks but I'll check into that. (I'm jealous of your cement mixer! I wish I had one just to mix potting soils with!)

That size ghouse is not a bad size...guess it depends how much you want to do with it. My first one was about 12 X 16 and I loved it! It did me great! I heated it with a wood stove just fine. (I did run outta room eventually, usually when I had to move plants up from cell packs into bigger cells or pots, then all of a sudden I wanted more shelves, more floor space, and more length.) I'd also determine it's size in 4 ft increments (12', 16', 20' ect) since standard lumber comes that way and will keep you from having so much scrap/waste left over. By the way, your radiant floor will be great to germinate and grow out your plants...many commercial ghouses use it.

As for height, again, depends on what kind of use you want out of it. I think mine is too high (13 ft at the highest point) (hoop-house shape). 8 feet would be plenty high enuff.

Keep them low. Heat rises and it takes more heat to fill that empty area up there. If floor heat works in a greenhouse like it does in my brothers home, wow!
ßernie