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helloworld
Coexisting



Registered: 03/22/11
Posts: 10
Loc: England
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Advice on greenhouse design (outdoor)
#14584156 - 06/09/11 08:38 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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A few days ago I was gifted an old aluminium greenhouse (6x8ft) to convert into a fruiting chamber for my oyster growing operation - I am working on a very tight budget so I am going Robinson Crusoe on this build where possible (we have a large yard with lots of materials lying about).
I have a limited understanding of the considerations (such as humidity, FAE, temperature, lighting, bacteria and pest control) so I am seeking a bit of advice with the insulation/flooring/roofing. The greenhouse site is backed up against a north facing wall, fairly sheltered and under partial shade from a tree so it gets a few hours of full sunlight in the early morning and speckled sunlight for the rest of the day.
I have left a gap in the foundation as I was considering putting in ventilation for C02 escape? Would that be necessary? With regards to the flooring, I was going to lay down some weed matting then fill the base with a sand/gravel mix to bring it level, then lay down some wood sheets and cover with either a vinyl or plastic cover? But that is neglecting any drainage (which could be directed out of the gap...is that needed? - I am handmisting 2-3 times a day at the moment, a humidifier is one of the next purchases)
About 75% of the glass panes are intact so I will have to buy some polycarbonate sheets (I was thinking that I would use them as the ceiling panels for light diffusion) and I am going to replace some side panels with vents for passive air exchange.
Finally, a picture of the location (I am learning as I go here so take it easy on the construction crit!);

and finally some oysters from an outdoor bucket;

Thanks
Edited by helloworld (06/30/11 04:46 AM)
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shroomzi8
king of the wild fronteer



Registered: 10/04/10
Posts: 1,764
Loc: Valencia, Spain
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: helloworld]
#14584309 - 06/09/11 09:04 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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nice shrooms. another overcast day here in the uk! drizzle, fishfingers and the queen. we are the only country in the world to have these three! no idea about your greenhouse but
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NSF
Eager to learn


Registered: 01/27/11
Posts: 548
Last seen: 7 years, 8 months
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: shroomzi8]
#14584391 - 06/09/11 09:21 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Fresh air and humidity are your primary concerns. Lighting and temperature are secondary. Pests, well, they might be anywhere between primary and tertiary concerns.
A good idea is to have an inlet in top corner, then an outlet in a diagonally opposite corner. Put some kind of filter over both (cheese cloth). And if possible, whatever you choose to generate humidity, have it do this in front of your inlet, so you are blowing in fresh humidified air.
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helloworld
Coexisting



Registered: 03/22/11
Posts: 10
Loc: England
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: NSF]
#14584476 - 06/09/11 09:37 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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shroomzi8 - Thanks, and a hello from the South West! 
NSF - Thanks for dropping in, how is your oyster venture coming along? The plan is to replace a few glass panes with filtered ventilation on both the front and rear sides, approx 5-6ft off the ground.
Will passive air exchange be enough? I want to avoid digging up the ground to run electric cables out there...
Edited by helloworld (06/09/11 01:18 PM)
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solumvita
Q.B.E.


Registered: 02/12/08
Posts: 2,061
Loc: South Africa
Last seen: 7 months, 20 days
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: helloworld]
#14585333 - 06/09/11 12:35 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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you will also want easy access to a tap/water source for cooling, cleaning etc.
if you can afford it, putting electricity source in the house will be a massive benefit.
what is your drainage like under the house, because sometimes it can get quite wet and sloshy in a mushroom house and it must either drain sub-surface or dig a drain channel.
-------------------- One of these days all the answers will be revealed until then we learn from each other! www.mushrush.co.za
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NSF
Eager to learn


Registered: 01/27/11
Posts: 548
Last seen: 7 years, 8 months
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: helloworld]
#14586549 - 06/09/11 04:51 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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@helloworld: my oyster venture needs a huge tweak. Kings are delish and look lovely but pulmonarius are hating the high CO2. I just read they need 6 fresh air exchanges an hour. So my timer that runs 15 on 1:45 off just isn't cutting it. I'm about to buy some digital timers.
As for your panels, well, if they are big enough then it might be like natural air flow in there. But humidity will be so hard to keep high.
It might work. Might.
Just remember that CO2 is heavier than oxygen, that's why i suggested a bottom outlet.
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solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: solumvita]
#14586570 - 06/09/11 04:56 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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A nice sunny day and your greenhouse will be at 35C. Ok for calocybe but not much else. - You will need to shade it, depending on how much sun you get you will either need a cloth, opaque plastic or you may get away with painting on some coolglass.
If you put a big black chimney/pipe from the bottom of the GH and an inlet in the top opposite side you "may" get enough solar draft for ventilation. - Drip some water over a home made water mat in front of the intake for some evaporative cooling and humidity (soaker hose is good for this).
from the sunny SE...
"Yes, London. You know: fish, chips, cup 'o tea, bad food, worse weather, Mary f'n Poppins... LONDON. "
Edited by solarity (06/09/11 05:02 PM)
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helloworld
Coexisting


Registered: 03/22/11
Posts: 10
Loc: England
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: solarity]
#14589250 - 06/10/11 07:22 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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solumvita - The ground contains a mix of old building rubble (sand, gravel, large stones) so it's not great for drainage. It would be nice to have a water collection system so I will look into that. I wasn't planning on running a hose through there but that may change if it becomes too much to mist by hand. In the meantime I will incorporate a drain into the design as it is easier to cover it up rather than decide I need to add one later on.
NSF - Sounds like you are on top of it, what does your current substrate mix comprise of? What sort of yields/BE? I am hoping to keep this low tech & cheap so I am avoiding the use of timers/fan controllers for the time being..
The surface area of the panels I am converting to ventilation is approximately 1sq ft, so I am hoping that 2 panels from each side will be sufficient. Like you said, keeping the humidity constant will be tricky, without an automated system I will have to put in more manual time but I will definitely look at placing water mats in front of the ventilation.
Solarity - Greets from down the road - Actually, I was interested in your location after reading about the new greenhouse setup (if I have the right name - lost the post), it would be great to check it out sometime...p.s. I don't suppose you know of any commercially viable sawdust based oyster spawn producers here on the island?
The shading is not a huge concern right now as the site is only exposed to full light for a few hours in early morning, the tree diffuses the light for the majority of the day. I am going to replace the roof panels that face the morning sun with polycarbonate sheets to bring the intensity down - a solar chimney would be more suitable if there was more light perhaps?
Edited by helloworld (06/10/11 09:15 AM)
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helloworld
Coexisting


Registered: 03/22/11
Posts: 10
Loc: England
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: helloworld]
#14695671 - 06/30/11 05:18 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Update;
Work has been continuing (weather permitting) and the hut is nearly complete, working to such a tight budget has not been easy but I think in all its simplicity it should do the job.
There is still a bit of remaining work, I intend on adding vents/fly screen to the top triangular sections both front and back which should provide enough air exchange (?), and also drape polythene sheet around the inside to seal it off. I am also considering adding racks to sit water trays underneath the vents.
A few pictures for those interested;
Foundations complete with drainage in the corner that leads to a stone drainage pit.


Main housing finished complete with hinged door.

It's small but it will suffice as a temporary rig...if you have any suggestions then I would love to hear them
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fungus_tao
Hah Zah!



Registered: 05/10/06
Posts: 1,856
Loc:
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: Advice on greenhouse design. [Re: helloworld]
#14697694 - 06/30/11 04:00 PM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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Is looking very good. How are you going to insulate?
-------------------- Follow the light The Light is your guide.
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