Build your own Greenhouse
There are many factors in the design of a greenhouse. Heating and cooling are the most variable. A double layer of film to decrease heat loss is required to heat a greenhouse. We use twin layers of 6mm UV protected film with a cushion of air between them.
Fans, Shutters, Water Wall coolers, and Lighting are other factors. It is cheaper to operate a greenhouse in the tropics than the Artic. The lower the pressure the faster water boils. At two atmospheres (<32 feet of depth) underwater, water heats more slowly. Sunlight is decreased at that depth and will require more lighting. The permafrost in Alaska is a prime example. Snow and Ice add weight. Each of these factors and more determine the price of a climate controlled greenhouse suitable for your area.
Our goal is to grow the best quality food in the smallest area for families. We will strive to provide you with the means to grow your own food in your yard than you cannot buy in a market. Our products are not the cheapest. They are the best to be found. We will continue to improve our products and provide the best service available. To say this is our goal is an understatement, it is our legacy!
The greenhouse we will build for you is designed for our systems and your climate. We can design it to attach to your home and make it real property increasing the value of your home. We can design your greenhouse or sun porch in a DIY kit form with easy to follow instructions. Thereby providing you with a low cost quality product.
Old World AquaFarm Greenhouse DIY Plans
Variations in greenhouse design are determined by their environment.
The weather, what the greenhouse is used for, & the type of greenhouse determines the design. There are many styles such as hoop, gothic, high tunnel, geodesic, and more. Old World AquaFarm prefers the high tunnel design. It is the cheapest and easiest to build. The side walls are taller which allows more growth area. With AquaFarming or Aquaponics more growth area equals a bigger variety of product. In AquaFarming there is no competition for plant nutrients. So you can plant as close together as you want to allow root growth. We have a Tote System operating with 60 tomato plants in it and another with more than 100 herb plants. Both of those systems are connected together and use the same pump.
The greenhouse we are building here will house up to 9 of the Old World AquaFarm Pro 200 Plant Tanks and 2 of the Aquatic Animal Tanks. There will be an area for germination and extra grow bed space. There is also an area to clean your fish. We will show the materials, the cost, and the labor required to build the Greenhouse. Let’s get started!
Ground Preparation
Site preparation just like the foundation of your home is very important. Where the greenhouse will sit should be flat and level. The foundation should be several inches above the natural terrain to prevent flooding. All electrical componets should be GFI protected and installed by a licensed professional.
Once the site has been selected, stake out an area, and level it to support the greenhouse. The greenhouse we designed is built for growth. Stakes with a string line and string level work well. Make sure the greenhouse floor is square and level. For a dirt floor dig a 12' diameter hole every 16 feet on centers all the way around. The hole depth is 12 inches. Fill the holes with concrete and install one of the 5/8" L-Bolts in the center of each hole. Allow 24 hours to dry. The holes will serve as anchors to hold the greenhouse down during wind. After you get the greenhouse floor level and higher (at least 4 inches) than the surrounding area. Place a treated 2" x 4" x 16' long around the perimeter. Drill 3/4" holes thru the 2" x 4" where L-Bolts can pass thru the drilled hole. Build the pony walls prior to attaching perimeter 2"x 4" with L-Bolts.
Pony Walls
Place treated 2” x 4”x 16' around the base of the greenhouse with pre-drilled 3/4" holes(standing on edge and lined up with L-Bolts). Squaring the greenhouse is important. Use 3 Ground anchors to secure base to ground on each side. Cover the floor with ground cover fabric to prevent weed growth. Install fabric staples (165 every 12" inches thru-out) Fill floor area with gravel, sand, or suitable material to walk on. We walk on the fabric and have done so for the last 3 years. Attach by nailing the pony wall studs (33" long) to the perimeter 2"x 4." Do not attach studs over drilled holes, allow at least a one inch space between the hole and the stud. Attach another 2"x 4" on the other end of the studs to complete the pony wall. Place the drilled 3/4" holes over the L-Bolts and snug the down with the 5/8" nuts. Continue all the way around the Greenhouse perimeter. Be sure the ground cover fabric is under the pony walls to prevent weed growth inside the greenhouse.
End Walls
Use two anchors on each end wall. The end wall are built from 2" x 4" x 16' treated lumber. A standard door (storm or screen) is 36" wide and 6' 8" tall. Allow an opening of 38" x 82" to allow for door installation. Shims will be required to level door in opening. Purchase a door that is pre-hung and pre-drilled for installation ease. Follow Manufacturers directions on door installation. Purchase door prior to framing opening. Or build your own. It is cheaper and remember locks only keep honest people honest, not thieves out. The end walls are built just like the pony walls on the sides except you will be adding framing for the door, fan, and shutter. For now build the end walls with door only framed in. The fan will install on one end wall and the shutter will install on the other end wall.
Gambrel Roof
By the end of this step you will have spent approximately $1,000.00 on the project. As you browse thru the instructions and watch the video. You will see this is not as complicated as you thought. It is not necessary to cut the angles on the the rafters. The 105 gussets you purchased are precut and drilled for you. Drive at least six nails into each gusset when installing. See how to build the Gambrel Roof jig in the video.
Covering
There are two pieces of 6 mil UV protected clear film in the kit you purchased for the roof and two pieces for the end walls. Installing the covering takes several people. Tie a cord to each of the four corners and throw cord over the greenhouse. Install aluminum poly latch with included self tapping screws. Attach to the pony walls top plate. Pull first cover over greenhouse and secure it with stainless steel spring wire. It is important to be able to read the writing on the film from the inside of the greenhouse. Letters to the inside on the inside piece and letters to the out side of the out side piece. Make sure cover is taught to prevent rain from forming water pockets in the top of the greenhouse. You may have to re-stretch the plastic in several weeks as the sun may expand it somewhat. Install the Air Insulation Kit as directed by the instructions. Now install the second layer of film. The outside piece of film is installed into the same poly latch as the inside layer. Simply use another Stainless Steel Spring Wire, it will fit in there.
Materials Estimated Cost
Set up the Old World AquaFarm™ System(s) as per instructions and video, start growing your food today! If you need help call us.
We can answer your questions.
Fans, Shutters, Water Wall coolers, and Lighting are other factors. It is cheaper to operate a greenhouse in the tropics than the Artic. The lower the pressure the faster water boils. At two atmospheres (<32 feet of depth) underwater, water heats more slowly. Sunlight is decreased at that depth and will require more lighting. The permafrost in Alaska is a prime example. Snow and Ice add weight. Each of these factors and more determine the price of a climate controlled greenhouse suitable for your area.
Our goal is to grow the best quality food in the smallest area for families. We will strive to provide you with the means to grow your own food in your yard than you cannot buy in a market. Our products are not the cheapest. They are the best to be found. We will continue to improve our products and provide the best service available. To say this is our goal is an understatement, it is our legacy!
The greenhouse we will build for you is designed for our systems and your climate. We can design it to attach to your home and make it real property increasing the value of your home. We can design your greenhouse or sun porch in a DIY kit form with easy to follow instructions. Thereby providing you with a low cost quality product.
Old World AquaFarm Greenhouse DIY Plans
Variations in greenhouse design are determined by their environment.
The weather, what the greenhouse is used for, & the type of greenhouse determines the design. There are many styles such as hoop, gothic, high tunnel, geodesic, and more. Old World AquaFarm prefers the high tunnel design. It is the cheapest and easiest to build. The side walls are taller which allows more growth area. With AquaFarming or Aquaponics more growth area equals a bigger variety of product. In AquaFarming there is no competition for plant nutrients. So you can plant as close together as you want to allow root growth. We have a Tote System operating with 60 tomato plants in it and another with more than 100 herb plants. Both of those systems are connected together and use the same pump.
The greenhouse we are building here will house up to 9 of the Old World AquaFarm Pro 200 Plant Tanks and 2 of the Aquatic Animal Tanks. There will be an area for germination and extra grow bed space. There is also an area to clean your fish. We will show the materials, the cost, and the labor required to build the Greenhouse. Let’s get started!
Ground Preparation
Site preparation just like the foundation of your home is very important. Where the greenhouse will sit should be flat and level. The foundation should be several inches above the natural terrain to prevent flooding. All electrical componets should be GFI protected and installed by a licensed professional.
Once the site has been selected, stake out an area, and level it to support the greenhouse. The greenhouse we designed is built for growth. Stakes with a string line and string level work well. Make sure the greenhouse floor is square and level. For a dirt floor dig a 12' diameter hole every 16 feet on centers all the way around. The hole depth is 12 inches. Fill the holes with concrete and install one of the 5/8" L-Bolts in the center of each hole. Allow 24 hours to dry. The holes will serve as anchors to hold the greenhouse down during wind. After you get the greenhouse floor level and higher (at least 4 inches) than the surrounding area. Place a treated 2" x 4" x 16' long around the perimeter. Drill 3/4" holes thru the 2" x 4" where L-Bolts can pass thru the drilled hole. Build the pony walls prior to attaching perimeter 2"x 4" with L-Bolts.
Pony Walls
Place treated 2” x 4”x 16' around the base of the greenhouse with pre-drilled 3/4" holes(standing on edge and lined up with L-Bolts). Squaring the greenhouse is important. Use 3 Ground anchors to secure base to ground on each side. Cover the floor with ground cover fabric to prevent weed growth. Install fabric staples (165 every 12" inches thru-out) Fill floor area with gravel, sand, or suitable material to walk on. We walk on the fabric and have done so for the last 3 years. Attach by nailing the pony wall studs (33" long) to the perimeter 2"x 4." Do not attach studs over drilled holes, allow at least a one inch space between the hole and the stud. Attach another 2"x 4" on the other end of the studs to complete the pony wall. Place the drilled 3/4" holes over the L-Bolts and snug the down with the 5/8" nuts. Continue all the way around the Greenhouse perimeter. Be sure the ground cover fabric is under the pony walls to prevent weed growth inside the greenhouse.
End Walls
Use two anchors on each end wall. The end wall are built from 2" x 4" x 16' treated lumber. A standard door (storm or screen) is 36" wide and 6' 8" tall. Allow an opening of 38" x 82" to allow for door installation. Shims will be required to level door in opening. Purchase a door that is pre-hung and pre-drilled for installation ease. Follow Manufacturers directions on door installation. Purchase door prior to framing opening. Or build your own. It is cheaper and remember locks only keep honest people honest, not thieves out. The end walls are built just like the pony walls on the sides except you will be adding framing for the door, fan, and shutter. For now build the end walls with door only framed in. The fan will install on one end wall and the shutter will install on the other end wall.
Gambrel Roof
By the end of this step you will have spent approximately $1,000.00 on the project. As you browse thru the instructions and watch the video. You will see this is not as complicated as you thought. It is not necessary to cut the angles on the the rafters. The 105 gussets you purchased are precut and drilled for you. Drive at least six nails into each gusset when installing. See how to build the Gambrel Roof jig in the video.
Covering
There are two pieces of 6 mil UV protected clear film in the kit you purchased for the roof and two pieces for the end walls. Installing the covering takes several people. Tie a cord to each of the four corners and throw cord over the greenhouse. Install aluminum poly latch with included self tapping screws. Attach to the pony walls top plate. Pull first cover over greenhouse and secure it with stainless steel spring wire. It is important to be able to read the writing on the film from the inside of the greenhouse. Letters to the inside on the inside piece and letters to the out side of the out side piece. Make sure cover is taught to prevent rain from forming water pockets in the top of the greenhouse. You may have to re-stretch the plastic in several weeks as the sun may expand it somewhat. Install the Air Insulation Kit as directed by the instructions. Now install the second layer of film. The outside piece of film is installed into the same poly latch as the inside layer. Simply use another Stainless Steel Spring Wire, it will fit in there.
Materials Estimated Cost
- 1 Basic Manual Climate Controlled Greenhouse DIY Growing Kit 11,795.00
- a. 102 pcs. 6/rafter/17 rafters 322.95
- b. 6 mil film doubled + air insulation kit 505.95
- c. 22 (102197) Poly Latch, 32 SS spring (10219 426.95
- d. Shade cloth (CC3144) 20’ x 36’ 300.95
- e. Ground cover (CC2981) & Fab Staples (111525) 270.95
- f. Water heater
- g. 3 Speed Fan (111940) & 20” Shutter (106045) 524.95
- h. Pump 2300 GPH 159.95
- i. 4 20 amp 110vac GFI plugs 128.95
- j. Auto plant cleaner/mister (See description)
- k. Thermostat (102720) & Irrigation (113785) 391.95
- l. 6 4’ Florescent Lights 384.95
- m. Sink, Prep Table, Cutting Board
- n. 4’ x 16’ x 24” Aquatic Animal Tank 473.95
- o. 3 4’ x 24’x 13” Plant Tanks 3,147.95
- p. Potatoe Extender
- q. Roof X-Bracing 71.95
- r. Control box 3,670.50
- s. Door Hardware Hinges, Handle, Closure 38.95
- t. Automatic Power switch
- u. 3 Solenoid 110 vac (WR1220) 258.95
- Estimated Parts Not Included in Kit 1750.00
- Estimated Greenhouse Basic Kit 7795.00
Set up the Old World AquaFarm™ System(s) as per instructions and video, start growing your food today! If you need help call us.
We can answer your questions.