Creative Greenhouses by Avery Mack G
reenhouses can be elaborate or simple, bought or homemade from
recycled storm windows and architec- tural scrap, designed with peaked roofs, hoops or geodesic domes. Some are set on a raised platform to stay above snow and flood levels. Kits at home improve- ment stores come in many sizes; Ikea even has a mini-greenhouse suitable for a windowsill. Sustainable passive solar models are the latest twist. Add a hammock or lounge chair for a tranquil getaway spot. A whimsical greenhouse built on
a platform allows for deep Canadian snows. Recycled 1800s windows com- prise both walls and roof with color- fully painted decorations safeguarding
for the Hobby Greenhouse Association, collects succulents and cacti. He keeps his 500-square-foot greenhouse at 50 degrees during chilly months. “After experiments and mistakes,
hobbyists find what works best for them. The resultant mix often in- cludes both flowering and fruiting plants,” says Master Gardener Tom Karasek, the association’s president, in Longview, Washington. “All green- houses have microclimates for more or less light or humidity and cooler or warmer temperatures.” For added value, greenhouse gardens act as insulation when situated on a rooftop to reduce heating and cooling costs, plus divert rainwater from drainage systems; the latter being especially valuable in urban zones. Whatever its size or scope, green- house gardening also shelters a sense of community. As gardeners trade veg- etables for a fisherman’s excess catch or as a thank-you for the loan of tools, they share both lively fare and their love of discovery.
Connect with the freelance writer via
AveryMack@mindspring.com.
birds as they fly nearby (
Tinyurl.com/ Window-Greenhouse).
Built in 1936, the art deco-styled
Jewel Box, in St. Louis, Missouri, is an outstanding example of greenhouse de- sign, with more than 15,000 square feet of vertical glass and five stair-stepped roofs. Horizontal metal surfaces prevent weather damage (
Tinyurl.com/Jewel BoxGreenhouse). Washington State Environmental
Chemist David Stone built a green- house using Ferrock, a carbon-negative material he invented as a cement substitute. Inside it, winter temperatures remain at 60 degrees, even though it’s near the Canadian border (
Tinyurl.com/ Eco-Greenhouse).
In Mesa, Arizona, a swimming pool is home to tilapia and chickens, wheat and grapes, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. The closed-loop aquaponic farm is an almost entirely self-sustaining ecosystem (
Tinyurl.com/PoolGreenhouse).
For more ideas, visit
Tinyurl.com/Build- ing-Greenhouses and
Tinyurl.com/Sal- vageGreenhouses.
1223 BUtler st. • eastOn, Pa 18042 • 610-559-7280
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photo courtesy of Roger Marshall
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