How to Build Your Own Greenhouse

Description

For avid gardeners, the biggest down-side of the hobby is the limited growing season in much of the country. Gardening during the winter is often reduced to tending house-plants and browsing seed catalogues for next summer's tomato choices. Master Gardener and builder Roger Marshall enthusiastically presents his case for home greenhouses with a thorough examination of everything the potential builder needs to know. Marshall's coverage of the subject begins with a careful consideration of the various purposes served by greenhouses. Will the structure be used as a damp, warm hothouse for rare orchids? A tropical paradise for banana and citrus trees? A friendlier environment in which to get a jump on a summer vegetable garden is the goal for many gardeners, while an inviting setting for a year-round hot tub surrounded by lush greenery has an undeniable appeal. What ever its eventual use will be, Marshall helps the reader examine every option and make an informed choice. After determining the type and style of the structure, Marshall progresses, chapter by chapter, through the construction elements of the greenhouse - from choosing a site, to laying the foundation and determining which glazing material will work best. Plumbing, heating, supplemental lighting, misting, and automatic venting systems are also covered for the truly committed reader/gardener. The final section-of the book includes detailed plans for nine actual greenhouses, from a simple cold frame to an elaborately detailed framed, detached structure. Whatever the greenhouse goal, Marshall opens the way to longer growing seasons, abundant organically grown fruits and vegetables, and many more happy months playing in the dirt!

In addition to designing boats, Roger Marshall regularly lectures and gives talks on gardening and greenhouse growing. He writes a monthly blog post for Hartley Greenhouse, and is the former editor of Home Greenhouse. He is also a member of the Garden Writers Association, The American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the Society of Authors (UK).

"Roger Marshall's book...shows gardening enthusiasts how to grow colorful flowers, tropical fruits and abundant vegetables year-round, no matter what the weather is." Los Angeles Daily News, January 27, 2007 "Marshall leads readers through myriad options and provides well-organized details on the whys and wherefores of each, along with how you (or a contractor) can design and build the greenhouse to suit your gardening needs." Arkansas Democrat, March 3, 2007 "The book's strengths are its many and varied schematics and highly detailed, step-by-step instructions for building growing structures, from cold frames for just a few vegetables to a large free-standing greenhouse that can double as an entertainment area...There's even a four-page check-list of what to plan for, materials to buy, and approximate costs." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 25, 2007 "If you are interested in building a greenhouse, here is the definitive do-it-yourself guide. This is the only guide needed to plan, situate and build your dream greenhouse." Lexington Herald-Leader, June 30, 2007 "If you've ever contemplated adding a greenhouse to your property but didn't know where to start, How to Build Your Own Greenhouse by Roger Marshall will point you in the right direction." The American Gardener, Sept.-Oct. 2007 "The author gives gardeners the inspiration to take their hobby indoors for the winter months, and then he gives them the means to do so, with step-by-step instructions....Nothing seems insurmountable under the guidance of master gardener Marshall." Berkshire Eagle