Small Greenhouses For Small Farms Small greenhouses are a pure magic money machine for the small growerI'm a big fan of small greenhouses. The best money I've ever invested on my farm has been to build my little lean-to greenhouse and the somewhat larger mobile greenhouse on rails shown above (inspired by Eliot Coleman.) My greenhouses have more than paid me back for the time and money I spent in constructing them. In my opinion, this is one of the first tasks a small farm should undertake.
Both my lean-to greenhouse and the mobile greenhouse were built with steel hoops I bartered for with a neighbour. My cash outlay for the framing lumber, screws and bolts, and 5-year greenhouse plastic brought the cost per square foot to about $1.50 for the lean-to and $2.50 for the bigger one.
 My lean-to, the first of three small greenhouses I builtIf frost threatens my lean-to greenhouse, I just stick in a small portable electric heater. The lean-to greenhouse is ventilated with a cheap box fan ($25) that I turn on in the morning, and turn off at night. See also my new page Build a Lean-To Greenhouse to start your plants and keep them thriving. Instructions to build a lean-to just like the one in the picture, the first one I built at New Terra Farm. Small greenhouses come in all shapes and sizesTurn your imagination loose; a greenhouse can be constructed in lots of ways. One of my gardening neighbours used a fast-framing kit intended to make a small shed to build her little greenhouse. The plastic and 2x2's cost her less than $50. My farm helpers from a couple years ago (they now operate their own market garden) scrounged a used garage shelter kit. They covered it with clear poly, and now have a very productive 10 x 20 greenhouse. They used pool noodles wrapped around the piping to protect the greenhouse plastic, so it's pretty colorful, too. If you are keen to build your own hoop house, see my review of my top choice for a DIY hoop house kit here. Use their kit and your locally-sourced lumber and fence rail to build a hoop house on the cheap.  2019- I built this little 8'x12' beauty using 16-foot cattle panel sectionsBest reason: greenhouses are just plain fun! The indoor temperature was about 18C (65F). I was working in just a sweater and jeans, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. It was like being transported about 3 climatic zones south without having to eat airplane food (and I didn't lose my luggage.)  Still about 2 feet of snow on the ground, but my greenhouse on rails is ready to goResources for the Small Greenhouse GrowerBootstrap Greenhouse will show you step-by-step how to build a greenhouse and use it to best advantage your small farm. We include plans and directions to
build each of the 3 greenhouse designs we use on New Terra Farm. Check out Bootstrap Greenhouse here. Or for an even better deal, get Bootstrap Greenhouse as part of my Complete Start Farming Pack and save 50%. More Resources for the Homesteader and Small Property OwnerChapter 9 - The Solar Greenhouse: The Self-Sufficient Backyard Raise chickens, pigs and a productive organic garden: The Homesteader Book Bundle Fresh egg for breakfast (and maybe barter): The Eggs Factory If you need to build it for your homestead, the plans are here: 16,000 Woodworking Plans
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