Our greenhouse project

I know some of you have asked about our greenhouse project, and did I have pix of the steps. Yes, I do have pix, and I will post them here on this thread to show what we started with and what it looks like now. I hope I can do this the way I want to, that way it will all be contained here on this one thread. First off, the building was used to house 100 head of sows as a breeding/gestation building. The dimensions are 30x120. It has a cement floor (with insulation under part of the cement where the sows laid to sleep), water to it, and a 1,000 gallon LP tank outside. The building itself was structurally sound. We decided to sell the sows almost 2 years ago and now Spouse just buys feeder pigs from a neighbor. I have to apologize for all of the old individual hog houses in front of the building itself, but time did not allow us to tear those down this year. That will be the project for next year, some heavy-duty landscaping around the building front. When we decided that the greenhouse project was a "go", spouse said we will do half and see what happens. So, the greenhouse as it is now is 30x64. Here is the outside of the building as it was before we did anything to it.

This is the view of the inside of the building as it looked when it had the hogs in it.

The gates and partitions are out now.

Even tho we decided to only make half into a greenhouse, we cleaned the whole building in case future plans call for finishing the rest. Spouse pressure washed the entire building inside, it took him 8 1/2 hours.

The old, falling down junky insulation under the tin roof and the tin were taken off. Rafters were going the wrong way so those all had to be taken down and measured, cut and painted before putting them back up. All rafters had a coat of primer and a coat of oil base finish. The sides of the board that were going to be in direct contact with the polycarbonate paneling had to have 2 coats of marine grade varnish. This view shows the rafters as they were being painted. MUCH eaiser to paint them on the ground! :>)

2 ventilation fans were installed on the east end.

Automatic shutters were installed on the wall we built on the west end that shut off the part we didn't finish off this year. I should say here that we had to purchase very little lumber for rafters, etc. The tin on the wall where the automatic shutters are came from the roof that we took off.

Sarting to put the polycarbonate paneling on the roof. Spouse decided that this was NOT a good husband-wife job, so hired help for that. All totaled, we had help for 3 afternoons, otherwise we did it all ourselves.

Outside of the building with all the paneling on the roof.

Spray-on expandable foam insulation was put on the north roof and north wall. We did not put this on, was done by the business owner. This was put on before the paneling on the south roof and wall.

Over the spray on foam, we stapled foil, bubble, bubble, foil insulation. It was 8 feet wide and came in a 120 foot roll. The foil really reflects the light, makes it very open and bright. I should add here that the foam is minimum 2 inch thickness.

South wall with the paneling installed. The spray on foam insulation below the paneling is now painted white.

Outside of the building with all the paneling on.

Let there be plants................ I have no desire to go into retail at this point. I am renting out space for people to bring their tropicals and winter them over here. I charge $20.00 per plant for the whole winter. I will make no money at this year, as I am not full, but, hopefully, by word of mouth by next year I will be full. I am over half right now, but I have over 70 of my own in there too! I had a disclaimer drawn up by an attorney for people to sign, just to cover my butt "just in case...." If this grows into a larger business in the next couple years, we will probably have papers drawn up and make it an LLC, so we can keep it separate from the farm business. I provide all the plant care for those brought in. If there is anything you want to know, just ask. I did forget to put in the pix of the heaters. We have 2 Modine 200,000 BTU LP heaters. We started this project in mid-May, and finished it in late September. This was done on top of all the other things that come with running 400 acres and milking cows and doing field work. And we're STILL married....amazing!!!!!!!!!

And a few more plants...........

Wow...what an awesome project!
Best of luck with your greenhouse,
and thanks for sharing all of those photos.
What a process! ;-)

anna, this is just fabulous!!! what a great way to spend the winter. just curious, what happens if someone's plant doesn't make it? are you out more than the $20?

wowzerz-great job!

A great project! I remember when you were just 'considering' this! Ya'll did good! Looks great!

Thanks, all, for the comments. tiG, yes, just out the $20.00. That's why I have them sign a waiver. I mean, plants are living things, I realize that somewhere along the line, SOMETHING IS GOING TO DIE!!!! I'm realistic about it, but hope for the best. That's why we garden, don't we?

Wow, it looks great!! There was a greenhouse in Alaska featured in one of our grower magazines. He rents out space for people to overwinter their plants. That's a great idea.(ours is too full of stuff to do that)

Anna, I bet you don't lose much if anything. You have a passion and you'll take as good care of them as if they were your own. Very smart to make them sign something though:) Best of luck!!!!

Anna, what an interesting project! Thanks for sharing the photos - I had wondered how far you progressed this summer; looks like you were very busy :) Here's hoping all the plants stay warm and healthy!

Hey really REALLY COOL! er uh, maybe that's warm. whatever. and amazing project!

Anna, what an amazing undertaking!!! I admire you for the making of the transition, here. I looks as though you have a great sunny exposure on the one side as well as through the panels on the roof...I betcha you could grow super tomatoes there also! We built our garden room and glasshouse(with friends)..and I wouldn't part with it for the world! a sanctuary is a great place to escape to! good luck with all the inhabitants(the plants) Elaine

Anna, that is incredible. I can only dream of someday having a greenhouse that big.

Bumping this up to the top because Anna_Z posted a picture on the photo forum of how it looks now.... full, very full and like a jungle!!. A successful business venture!!

;-))

Good Grief Anna-Z ! That was a major transformation ! And tons of room ! Wow it looks great! I'd like to see the pic in the photo forum. Which thread is it on?

Anna, please do post more pictures and how your greenhouse business is doing. It's amazing!
:) Donna

It needs a wicker couch with big comfy cushions -- for napping out among the growing things! It's BEAUTIFUL! :) I see huge business potential too. :)

-Joe G.

What Happened to the Hogs?