Autumn’s Inexpensive DIY Greenhouse

By Autumn Hansen
Published on December 20, 2017
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Autumn completed her greenhouse in three days for under $150
Autumn completed her greenhouse in three days for under $150
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Autumn and her dad finished the 2-by-4 frame with low cost fence boards.
Autumn and her dad finished the 2-by-4 frame with low cost fence boards.
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Autumn was  able to salvage her neighbors old windows.
Autumn was able to salvage her neighbors old windows.
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Curtain cloths provide shade and help to regulate the temperature inside during the hotter parts of the day.
Curtain cloths provide shade and help to regulate the temperature inside during the hotter parts of the day.
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A vent allows for hot air that rises to escape.
A vent allows for hot air that rises to escape.
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Water filled containers help regulate temperature swings.
Water filled containers help regulate temperature swings.
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Water can also be stored to use later.
Water can also be stored to use later.

I live on a small urban plot in the heart of downtown Reno, Nevada. Even though I live within walking distance of a grocery store, I pride myself in growing fresh food for my family. Winter has always been my most challenging growing season, but now I grow an abundance of fresh salad greens in an unheated greenhouse, and I’d like to share my story with you.

My greenhouse journey began with patience. I knew glazing would be the most expensive part of my project, so I made a decision to wait for free windows. One day, I was talking to a neighbor who told me she was replacing her original 1953 single-pane windows, and I found myself blurting out, “Can I have your old ones?” She happily brought them over, and with those beautiful old windows stacked nicely on the side of my house, I began to formulate a plan.

The Important Features

Location was very important. My greenhouse had to have southern exposure and be within a few feet of my back door. This narrowed the location down to a small corner of my patio, which determined the size of my greenhouse; it would be 6 feet square.

Having a beautiful structure was important to me as well, not only because I like being surrounded by beauty, but because my neighbors would see it over the fence, and I didn’t want them complaining.

Also, I wanted a completely off-grid structure that wouldn’t require any further investment to grow food. And lastly, it had to be inexpensive; I had a budget of $150.

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