Started to build a new greenhouse today. Thought I would share some pics as we progress. Updated 3/4/2022

[bbhaag]

So this summer/falls capital improvements list my brother an I decided that it was necessary to add an additional 3,000 sq.ft. greenhouse. This will help alleviate production space constraints that we are facing with our main gutter connected greenhouses'. Once construction is finished on this one it will bring our total covered greenhouse space up to 34,000 sq.ft.

I thought I would create a post and share some pics of the building process with everyone. Greenhouses' are kind of unique structures that you don't see everyday. Especially true production greenhouses' like the ones we have. Anyway, onto the first set of pics. We started early today to try and beat the heat but didn't get as far as I had hoped we would. We got the string lines ran and squared up. This greenhouse will be 30' wide by 100' long. You can see it's twin in the pictures. That greenhouse was constructed in 2015 by my Dad, brother, and I as well.
This a simple style greenhouse that is ground to ground not gutter connected like our main production house.

These first couple of pics are a little boring but I will try and keep this thread updated as we get further along in the process.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Cool project! Been looking into cheap off grid land properties, and this is definitely something I'd like to do at some point. Maybe not at that scale mind you but would be cool to grow some of my own food year round.

 

[bbhaag]

Cool project! Been looking into cheap off grid land properties, and this is definitely something I'd like to do at some point. Maybe not at that scale mind you but would be cool to grow some of my own food year round.

Thanks! Yeah the last one we constructed was it's twin LF1 but like I mentioned that was back in '15. Needless to say all three of us are a little rusty. haha
You mentioned cheap off grid projects that you would like to do. This greenhouse is not off grid or cheap. When all is said and done the final construction cost will be between $15,000 and $18,000. I know you said you wouldn't do anything this big I just thought I would give everyone an idea of the cost.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Oh yeah can imagine it's not cheap. My goal with off grid would be to keep reoccurring costs cheap. The actual structures would not be any cheaper than normal. The type of properties I'm looking into are taxed very low like $100/year. The money I save in taxes and utility bills can then go to big projects and toys. For where I live a standard greenhouse would not quite work though, it would be more like an insulated warehouse with plastic inside. So it would end up being costly enough depending how big I go.

Are those greenhouses like a kit you buy or pretty much custom built? I imagine they go up fairly easily once you have the pad and the small walls poured. That part is probably what's really expensive actually.

 

[bbhaag]

Oh yeah can imagine it's not cheap. My goal with off grid would be to keep reoccurring costs cheap. The actual structures would not be any cheaper than normal. The type of properties I'm looking into are taxed very low like $100/year. The money I save in taxes and utility bills can then go to big projects and toys. For where I live a standard greenhouse would not quite work though, it would be more like an insulated warehouse with plastic inside. So it would end up being costly enough depending how big I go.

Are those greenhouses like a kit you buy or pretty much custom built? I imagine they go up fairly easily once you have the pad and the small walls poured. That part is probably what's really expensive actually.

Sounds like you have a pretty cool idea about the type of land you want to purchase. It would be fun to have some cheap acreage that you could do what you want on.
To answer your question this greenhouse well all greenhouses' really unless you get really big are sold as kits. These two were originally purchased at auction from a guy in MT.Vernon Illinois. He was retiring and selling off his assets so we bid on them and won the auction for $8,000 each. That cost was not included in the construction cost I gave above.

These greenhouses are manufactured by a company called Nexus Greenhouse Systems. This model is called the Columbine and new it costs right around $30,000 for the kit plus any additional materials needed. Things like running electricity, heating, side walls, end walls, circulation fans, ect. are all extra costs that need to be factored in before construction begins.

 

[BoomerD]

Damn...and I have to fight with SWMBO about building an 10x12 greenhouse...she thinks it's too big...8x10 is the biggest she has agreed to...so far.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah reminds me when my dad's workplace got a dome built for RVs. Was around in the same price range. In a way it was actually more expensive than a warehouse a there was lot of gotchas involved but the dome counts as a temporary building while a warehouse does not, so their taxes would have been jacked up if they built a warehouse.

 

[eng2d2]

wow when you say greenhouse its a greenhouse.

 

[bbhaag]

Damn...and I have to fight with SWMBO about building an 10x12 greenhouse...she thinks it's too big...8x10 is the biggest she has agreed to...so far.

I maybe biased but IMO go bigger when it comes to greenhouses'. Tell your SWMBO that you read on Anadtech that bigger is better when it comes to greenhouses'. It just allows you to do more when you have more space.

wow when you say greenhouse its a greenhouse.

Hell yeah man. Go big or go home right.

 

[bbhaag]

Yeah reminds me when my dad's workplace got a dome built for RVs. Was around in the same price range. In a way it was actually more expensive than a warehouse a there was lot of gotchas involved but the dome counts as a temporary building while a warehouse does not, so their taxes would have been jacked up if they built a warehouse.

This is an interesting post. I've been around here long enough to know you're from Canada and here in the US it is very similar. All of our greenhouses' are considered temporary structures and because of that designation there is a leniency when it comes to permits and taxes.

 

[eng2d2]

I maybe biased but IMO go bigger when it comes to greenhouses'. Tell your SWMBO that you read on Anadtech that bigger is better when it comes to greenhouses'. It just allows you to do more when you have more space.

Hell yeah man. Go big or go home right.

Is it weed?

 

[bbhaag]

Is it weed?

No, none of our greenhouses' are used for marijuana production. When the Illinois legislature made recreational marijuana legal a month or so ago we seriously weighed the pro's and cons of switching production over to a cash crop. In the end the cons won out and we decided to remain focused on producing the best blooming annual and perennial plants.
Plants like geraniums, petunias, hostas, and so many others are what we are good at growing and what we decided to stay focused on going forward even with the legal changes here in Illinois.

Edit: I've posted it before but here is a Washington Greenhouse virtual tour of our business. Feel free to roam through and you will get a better idea of what we grow.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This greenhouse is not off grid or cheap. When all is said and done the final construction cost will be between $15,000 and $18,000.

So, about how much I spend on computer parts at Newegg per month...










...kidding!


Nice Greenhouse, BTW! Looks like an interesting project.

 

[eng2d2]

No, none of our greenhouses' are used for marijuana production. When the Illinois legislature made recreational marijuana legal a month or so ago we seriously weighed the pro's and cons of switching production over to a cash crop. In the end the cons won out and we decided to remain focused on producing the best blooming annual and perennial plants.
Plants like geraniums, petunias, hostas, and so many others are what we are good at growing and what we decided to stay focused on going forward even with the legal changes here in Illinois.

Edit: I've posted it before but here is a Washington Greenhouse virtual tour of our business. Feel free to roam through and you will get a better idea of what we grow.

Wow some operation you got there. Very beautiful. My favorite part of the year is spring. Its too bad I don't have a green thumb. I am trying the jerry baker formula on my lawn. LOL

 

[BoomerD]

I maybe biased but IMO go bigger when it comes to greenhouses'. Tell your SWMBO that you read on Anadtech that bigger is better when it comes to greenhouses'. It just allows you to do more when you have more space.

Hell yeah man. Go big or go home right.

Unfortunately, we don't have acreage...and a greenhouse will just give us a place to get an early start for our small vegetable garden...in a way that will also keep deer out.
We don't have warm summers here...Mark Twain's (alleged) comment about the coldest winter he ever saw was the summer in San Fran...he obviously never visited here... I think we've had one day so far that hit 75 degrees...a greenhouse might even let me grow maters here. (most locals say it's nearly impossible because of the cool temps...any maters never quite ripen.

 

[highland145]

Better keep it locked up tight. Mayne will be sneaking plants in.

 

[BoomerD]

Better keep it locked up tight. Mayne will be sneaking plants in.

Unfortunately (or not since I don't partake) that kind of agriculture is illegal here. (no "consumer" grow...only licensed growers)

 

[highland145]

no "consumer" grow...only licensed growers)

More govt bs to enrich the already rich. Didn't MI try that crap, legalize but only 5 approved growers allowed?

 

[BoomerD]

More govt bs to enrich the already rich. Didn't MI try that crap, legalize but only 5 approved growers allowed?

Dunno about MI, but there are a fuckton of legal growers here.

 

[Red Squirrel]

They kinda did the same here. It's legal, you can grow small amounts for personal use, but if you want to go bigger scale and sell you're not allowed. There's only a limited number of large scale corporations and stores that got approved.

 

[highland145]

They kinda did the same here. It's legal, you can grow small amounts for personal use, but if you want to go bigger scale and sell you're not allowed. There's only a limited number of large scale corporations and stores that got approved.

Grease the right palms...dicks.

 

[eng2d2]

do you carry calibrachoa ? just bought some the other day transplanted and they wilted.

 

[bbhaag]

Another update for everyone. Today went really slow as we tried to dig the 50 holes needed for the ground stakes. Each hole is 12" wide and needs to be at least 36" deep to get below frost line. Our augur wasn't getting enough down force to cut through the rocks and clay so we ended up using our forklift and a pallet of rock to exert more downward force on the auger.

25 holes on 4' spacing. This side went fairly easy.

Here's a pic of what I was talking about above. I know not the safest but it was what we had on hand and it worked well.

This is a pic I took at the end of the day. The first 25 holes went smooth but the other side did not. Our augur broke about 6 times all because we are trying to cut through hardened clay and rocks bigger than my fist. We only got about half way through digging the 25 holes before the augur broke again and we decided to call it a day.

 

[bbhaag]

do you carry calibrachoa ? just bought some the other day transplanted and they wilted.

Yes we do! Callies are a though plant to grow so I don't usually recommend them to beginning gardeners. Are you making sure you are watering it at least once a day? Callies are not forgiving and if you miss one watering on a hot summers day that usually cooks them.

 

[zinfamous]

Mayne will be so jealous