Hello from NW Florida

[John Carpenter]

Hi All,

My S.O and I are wanting to build a homemade small green house to grow safe and healthy food with aquaponics.

So far, we are thinking about:

1) building a hoop greenhouse out of pipe used in chain link fencing.  It looks like a cheap-n-durable solution. 

2) expanded clay media in flood/drain growbeds

3) wood frames built from 2x4's and 4x4's reinforcing plywood "water tanks" covered with EPDM for our fishtanks.  Four sheets of plywood would construct a tank with approximately 300 gallons. 

I've heard that root crops can grow in expanded clay but initial research has people saying there are other types of media beds better suited for root crops.  Sure need lots more research and advice in all areas of design and function.

If any of you folks in NW Florida or Southeast Alabama would allow us to tour your creations, we would very much appreciate it.  Thanks!

[George]

Good luck with your plans.  Possibly you don't really need a greenhouse - just plant seasonal vegetables.  It's gotten so that frosts are somewhat rare here in N/E Fl and hard freezes very rare.  I grew some beets last winter and they did well  - didn't look strange at all - plan for carrots in media this winter. 

[John Carpenter]

George said:

Good luck with your plans.  Possibly you don't really need a greenhouse - just plant seasonal vegetables.  It's gotten so that frosts are somewhat rare here in N/E Fl and hard freezes very rare.  I grew some beets last winter and they did well  - didn't look strange at all - plan for carrots in media this winter. 

Thanks for the heads up!

I've come to believe that a small greenhouse is essential to control the atmospheric inputs because of pollution and possibly radiation.  We've been seeing a number of persistent contrails(?) that affect cloud cover and radiation has been washing out of the atmosphere in a number of places in the US.  I sure don't want to be eating that stuff!