Portable Greenhouse Goes Where The Heat Is

Portable Greenhouse Goes Where The Heat Is BUILDINGS Miscellaneous 32-3-2 If it gets too cold for the plants in Loye Startzell's greenhouse, he just pulls it into his heated garage. Once the sun comes out, so does the greenhouse. The 16 by 8-ft. unit is outfitted with all the modern conveniences, including water and electrical hook ups. It makes it easy for him to start the hundreds of plants (300 tomato plants alone) that he later transplants to his three gardens or gives away to neighbors. "I built the greenhouse on an old trailer frame that a salvage dealer gave me," explains Startzell. "I welded the cracked frame and reinforced the cross members by adding additional bed frame rails and welded into place cross members that were bent or broken." Once he had a solid base to work with, he laid down a 2 by 6 floor, spacing the planks so water could drain through. The 6-ft., 3-in. tall walls were framed on 16-in. centers with 2 by 2's. To strengthen the structure, Startzell framed in the end walls with 2 by 2's and particle board with a center height of 7 ft. 5 in. He ran a 2 by 4 the length of the trailer as a ridge beam. More particle board covers the lower 18 in. of the sidewalls, adding stability to the structure, yet allowing in light for plants set on the floor. He cut openings for two windows at either end of the greenhouse and a hole for a fan at one end and a doorway at the other end. "I cut down an old door to the proper size and added a fold-down step made from scrap steel that I hinged to the trailer," he says. The greenhouse is covered by 6-mil plastic. "All electrical wiring is overhead to prevent any water contact when watering plants," emphasizes Startzell, who also recommends using GFI receptacles for safety. "If it doesn't get cold enough to pull in the garage, I cover the slatted floor with pieces of carpet and plastic and hook up a small heater." A simple garden hose holder with a faucet attached makes it easy to get water inside the trailer. The interior of the trailer consists of two 38-in. high, 16-ft. by 29-in. shelves and a 29 1/2-in. wide center aisle. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Loye Startzell, 1205 Ishman Rd., Brookville, Penn. 15825 (ph 814 849-5888; loye@alltel.net).

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