We purchased a Kubota tractor and dug out part of the south facing hill. The pit greenhouse is north of the house embedded into a south facing bank. The bricks came from Home Resource in Missoula. We did not have time to finish the greenhouse before winter. The white tape is electrical tape we have up to keep the deer out.
After doing our research, we decided on using steel studs. Steel has several advantages
- Steel will not rot out
- Does not need to be painted
Karl had a great time building the greenhouse, all the studs are straight.
The solexx walls went up easy. Some of our decisions included
- Steel framing to avoid bugs in the wood and having to introduce paint etc into the greenhouse.
- A vent on the lower south facing wall
- A vent high on the north facing wall. Since we are on a hill this helps with ventilation.
- A vent on the west wall with an auto opener for high temp situations. In the summer I prop it open
- A vent on the east end of the north wall that is temperature controlled.
- In the summer we remove the north facing wall – for ventilation but we have a screen to keep out bugs
- In the winter we insulate the north wall and run a sheet of plastic over it to help keep out the cold.
- In the coldest part of winter we create an inner greenhouse which keeps the room a balmy 35° F
