By: Bill Rowe
Monday 9:55pm
Nowadays most everyone has come to the realization that global warming and greenhouse gas effect are not merely figments of some mad scientist’s imagination. We humans are fouling our own nest, so to speak. We have irresponsibly pillaged and plundered the resources of this planet until it has grown tired of us and our actions. Hopefully not too late, we can make a difference and lend a hand by recycling and supporting the use of sustainable resources.
For the devoted green gardener, a greenhouse built out of recycled materials is the perfect way to reflect one’s dedication to the cause of saving Planet Earth. What better way could there be than by growing plants to encourage cleaner air and using recycled materials so that no new resources need be harvested in order for you to build.
Where to Find Recycled Material in Which To Build Your Greenhouse
Everything you need to build your greenhouse is available as recycled materials. Don’t throw away plastics from your kitchen any more, use them to start seeds or as containers to hold seedlings. You know those plastic containers with a clear plastic lid that you get your rotisseries chicken in at the deli? They make great seed starters. Fill the bottom with potting soil, plant the seeds, water and snap on the clear lid for a perfect starter environment. Egg cartons too make a wonderful seed starters. Put one seed in each egg section full of potting soil, water, cover with plastic and set in a warm, sunny spot. Before long, you will have little plants popping up.
A few interesting statistics about recycled products available for use in your greenhouse:
Hanging baskets made of 44% recycled material, rose containers of 94% recycled material, greenhouse containers of 74% recycled materials and plug carriers also of 94% recycled materials. Your greenhouse gardening environmental footprint need not be very obvious when you use all recycled materials inside your greenhouse.
Options for Building your Greenhouse from Recycled Materials
If you wish to build a greenhouse from recycled materials you have a couple of options.
1. To build your greenhouse from salvaged material
2. To build your greenhouse from products you purchase that are either part or wholly made of recycled materials.
One of the most popular salvage building methods is to build the greenhouse using windows salvaged from sites where buildings are being torn down. Often the parties that are demolishing the existing building will let you have the windows for free if you tear them out or just for saving them from having to haul them off. Also at demolition sites you can generally find brick to salvage for the base of your structure or even for the floor if you intend to include flooring.
Most areas have salvage centers where you can buy doors, lumber, windows, beams and sometimes hardware necessary to build your greenhouse at extremely low bargain, salvage prices. Your local hardware stores will certainly offer recycled plastic sheeting and maybe even PVC for your watering system.
Salvaged and recycled materials not only save you a lot of money, but you will also be saving Planet Earth when you build your greenhouse out of recycled materials.
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Wish I had seen this before I built my own greenhouse from recycled materials. (see my website)