Canadian Backyard Greenhouse Winter Update

Update on our greenhouse now that we are well into winter.
There has been snow on the ground for weeks but it just melted this week so I thought it was a good time to show you an update.

[vetru]

What you can try is, get some barrels paint them black and fill them with water stack them up on one side. The sun heats them up during the day, and it releases it during the night cheap solution. There is an unheated greenhouse in Winnipeg, that hit minus 40 and the place was 18 deg. inside at night, It's possible with some fancy designs to get get them working unheated.

[dogsdown]

It may be that you compost pile is small, but if you build a bin, it would contain it better and may keep the heat better. Just get a tool for turning it over once in a while. I can't believe you're growing in the greenhouse already. I'm in Wisconsin and I have 1.5ft of snow in the garden area. I have hoophouses that I'm thinking that i'll plant root crops in a couple of weeks.

[aerdna]

Thanks for the up date, I would love to see you guy post more often.
I'm injoying my weather down here in Southern California, I think I will take the rain we are getting and past on the snow!
Thanks again!

[obiecanobie]

heat rises up, few chickens and a ship or a goat  might do it, they might just have to share the space, double walls plastic sheeting with no leaks and God bless you out there !  

[CanadianRoadRunner]

You're in the Windsor area. That hardly counts as Canadian weather wise! It's the hot spot in the country more often than not. I envy you.

[redtankgirl]

Have you considered a rocket stove for your heat during cold periods?Running the venting through your raised beds creates a thermal mass which will heat the green house for about 8 hrs, with only 2 hrs of wood burning.uses 5 times less wood and vents mostly steam, little smoke.Also, I'm trying my potatoes in straw this year.straw heats up very well when watered and you can grow right in the bails after watering them and conditioning them, for growing.Looks great, what you have.How is it now?

[purple]

Thank you for this video. One book that I recommend is The Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman. He grows many cold hardy vegetables all winter in coldhouses (unheated poly tunnels) in Maine, USA. Very informative book.

[arbonac]

A 50 gallon plastic tub full of water would help passively offer temperature stability. Also, if you have electricity in there, how about boiling some water in there for your nightly hot cocoa, or get a small wood stove and set it on low to burn all night?

[corrythew]

Your on the right track ....Wood chip compost 2 ft deep and extending 3 ft past the walls...Double pane green house with a dead air space in between ...Plant boarders of chimney bricks ( to release heat at night ) and instead of water, I would use Barrels or black pails of rotting  manure  to release and generate heat at night

[RhondaB]

Yes, your compost combo is more brown then green.  should be equal mix of green and brown to create a good heat and turn over.  also run water hose thru compost and heat water as it passes thru, thus run hose along or loop around plants for nite time heat and no lights.  Size does not matter, but you may want to have several at that size so as you add more compost to the line of hoses, you get more hot water or less time for the water to cool between piles.  Also good for running thru floor of bottomless tank for heat rises and the cooler water will be at the bottom of the tank.  in the basement where we want it.  For additional heat you can run actual tank water thru the compost piles.  I like to do both, on for the tank when they need warm water and one for me to have hot water or the plants needing heat to grow or germinate.   Send me a pm for plans.  

[motocephalic]

had the same problem with my hoop house, clips did not stay in place during the Winter and snow with high winds in Maine.  Good effort with your Hoop House, I am always trying to learn from these videos. thanks

[joanofarc]

She has a nice soothing voice. I bet the plants love her! LOL

[steviebboy]

I think i mean to say it can get up to about 45.c on a hot summer day here. but normally 38.c is the average. now in the green house that would be way hotter.
the coldest on record here was -6, is your temp the overnight minimum or the day maximum.

here it can be 8-13.c on a winter day.

[Belkara]

Thank-you for posting your experiences. :)

[nacek]

Maybe instead of trying to warm up the greenhouse using compost, you could try by keeping some warm blood animals. If you convience a bear to sleep in it, it would be perfect I guess

[b.p.]

One really good way to heat your green house in with water and black barrels. So I'm thinking raise your beds and put them on top of the black barrels. As the heat rises it will keep your plants nice and warm . However you will find that your production of food will increase a lot. So I hope your hungry.
There are several videos on utube that have green houses that don't require any electricity to operate. There is one that the people have a fan hooked up to solar I'm sure that you can get these things that will be big enough to operate lights .

[pineappleprincess]

I'm wondering WHEN I can start things in a green house. We are near Ottawa, On.

[steviebboy]

I just put up a greenhouse and they do get hot in there, its just on spring here now and it got to about 23.C and its like a summer heat wave in there. kind of like a mid summer 45.c day.
i have never seen snow falling in real life for me looks nice, only time i have seen similar is when the plum blossoms fall in the wind. what temps do you get in the winter.

[carlospereira]

i have a squarefoot garden. 10x10 with walkway in the middle. i will be making a green house over it this year. one idea i was thinking for more heat was putting down black plastic over the dirt, cutting out whole's around where the plants will be, and poke a few more wholes in the plastic for water to get into the soil. my idea is that the black plastic will heat up from the sun shining through the greenhouse and give it more effect. anyone think this is a good idea?

[MushroomPatch]

@GettingThereGreen We are located in Chatham. I'm doing a lot to my yard/urban farming. Secretly raising chickens and rabbits. Also planted a mini Permaculture Food Forest, 8 raised beds and a small greenhouse. I just wanted to through an invite to you if you are going to be in the area (thought you might appreciate the yard). If you find yourself in the Chatham area PLEASE let me know. Oh...and a beehive hidden on the side of the house. ;-)