We needed a quick greenhouse to start seeds in early. Here is my attempt with some of the important points shown below and a link to further instructions. Thanks to TexasPrepper2 on youtube for the inspiration.
This greenhouse is built using 3 cattle panels. Each panel measures 16 feet long by 50 inches. The base is made of 2 inch thick cedar, but since the ground is sloping I had to vary the width of each board to bring the building back into level. It worked out well, and seemed to be an easier solution than digging it out or bringing in fill material to get the foundation level.
The cattle panels are secured to the cedar foundation using 1 1/2 inch fence staples. Cedar wants to split easily, so pilot holes had to drilled. The panels are tied to each other using a few inches of plastic coated clothes line ever couple of feet.
To keep the plastic from tearing on the edges of the panels I used foam water pipe insulation. Also, the horizontal ribs of the cattle panels are all facing the inside, which keeps any sharp ends from rubbing on the greenhouse plastic. Fencing staples were also used to attach the 2 by 4’s to the panels, which are also covered with the insulation to keep from rubbing.
DIY little swivels were made to attach removable windows to the large vent and door that are on opposite ends of the building for good cross flow of air. Both openings are screened to keep out pests…hopefully. The window frames are 1 by 1 inch wood with plastic stretched over and stapled.
There are 3 small raised beds that are lined with hardware cloth or a double layer of chicken wire to keep out moles/voles.
A view towards the door shows the cedar shelves and the end of the longest raised bed (8 feet) on the right. The door and the vent are made of 1 inch cedar all the shelves and framing are 2 inch cedar.
The view from the front door shows the large screened vent with removable window on the opposite wall. There are 3 small raised beds at the far end and double shelves on both sides as well. A couple inches of cedar mulch covers the dirt floor.
A single sheet of 6 mil plastic measuring 20′ x 20′ covered the entire greenhouse except for the door and vent areas. A generous amount of 1/2 inch T50 staples secured the plastic to the wood frame.
The final cost on the greenhouse was less than $150. The most expensive part was the cattle panels at about $60. The wood was milled on site so the only cost was a few dollars of gas and oil. If you want to build something like this, here is the link to a youtube video that I copied and finished out the inside to our liking.