So a few posts ago I talked about how to make a cold frame. Well a pine branch fell on mine during one of the wind storms, breaking the roof and soaking all the seedlings inside. It has now become my second compost bin instead since it takes at least year to make really good compost so I stopped putting it in one and am now putting it in the second so next spring the first compost bin will be ready to use for planting.
I got some old animal cages from my neighbor across the street who is building new ones. They were sitting all winter waiting for me to decide if I wanted to turn it into a chicken coop or rabbit hutch, but now I decided I would like a mini greenhouse. So I removed all the hardware cloth, cleaned them with soapy water and a brush, and then took most of the panels completely apart since there was some dry rot and they weren't exactly the right size. The ones that were right I put new nails at the joints since they were coming apart too easily. So basically if you have a pile of 2x2s, a tape measurer, a pencil, hammer and nails, and a chop saw and you can build what what I've built so far.
The two short sides and the base fit together perfect so after putting the base panel on some level cinder blocks (I would do pier blocks buried halfway down instead), I put the short sides up one at a time and used some short pieces of 2x4 screwed on each side of the base and then screwed to the wall diagonally to keep these walls up while I get the other two walls made. I nailed down the sides from the base plate to the base panel and constructed the other two long sides to fit the length in between. Luckily my door was on one of these short sides, it is constructed out of the same 2x2s. You will have to make a door and also frame in a space for it. In either order since you will make one to fit the other,
Since my greenhouse is not getting a heavy plywood roof or any live animals, I didn't put that many joists in, just enough to make the wall panel stable. I made the whole wall panel on the ground and then put in on the base as a whole unit. I nailed it to the base, and to the side panels using a level to make sure it is plumb.
I did the same with the other long side just this one was a different height since there is a sloping roof. Now is the time to remove those little diagonal wood scraps attached from the base to the short sides. Give it a good shake. You want it to fall now instead of when you aren't expecting it right. Mine seemed a little wiggly so I put some more nails down through the base and in the corners.
Now the roof joists can be done several different ways. I put a board across the width of the roof and marked up where to cut at an angle. My angle is only 15 degrees. So I cut three boards and then drilled toenail holes and started my nails while on the ground so standing with them up on the ladder only a few hits were needed to get them secure. After these are attached the whole structure should be pretty solid. If not add a few more fire blocks (horizontal short pieces) in between the joists.
Now all my leftover wood I cut into braces my cutting them each at a 45 degree on both sides to get a whole bunch of foot long or less pieces that will hold up my shelves. I toenailed them in with the tops at the same height and cut some plywood I had laying around. I have four shelves in on the back and put some more braces on the other side for some future shelves. I painted everything to match my house which is light blue and that really made it look high class.
That is all I have done so far but am planning on putting clear corrugated plastic roofing on it and just some heavy painters plastic type sides. If the sides don't last a season I will do the corrugated plastic on all of it since it is 30$ for a roll of plastic to cover everything versus 15$ for a 2 foot by 8 foot feet of hard corrugated plastic that I will need probably 12 pieces of and have a heck of a time cutting for the door. Of course there is heavy duty greenhouse fabric as well which is in between those two price points that lets in sun and rain but also keep it warm and the bugs and birds out. I have a feeling I should put a few drain holes in the floor as well before winter time comes too.
