Building your own greenhouse can be fun and easy. We built one in our backyard to start plants for our vegetable garden and will be using it this winter so that we have a continuous supply of fresh vegetables for our family. We began with recycled materials. We did have to purchase a few items but most everything we found for free.

Several thoughts go into building your greenhouse. First, what purpose do you intend to use it for? Ornamental flowers, starting plants (flowers, fruits, veggies), or season extension (growing food out of season). Then you need to decide how big you want to make your greenhouse. For beginners I would recommend a 10x10 greenhouse. Though there are tons of free plans on line for portable pvc hoop greenhouses, it is still more fun the way we did ours. Next you will need to pick a location in your yard that will be a) big enough for this little greenhouse and b) get enough sunlight even during the coldest days of winter to keep your plants warm.

Materials
8 8' pieces of 2x6 boards
17 8' pieces of 2x4 boards
1 sheet plywood *
1 8' length of siding (can be several smaller pieces) need to be 3 feet
wide, we recommend aluminum like you would find on pre-made sheds.
Wood Screws (Nails can be used but screws hold up better and are easier to
work with)
10x20 Plastic Drop cloth usually found near the painting supplies *
Heavy Duty staples for staple gun *

Tools List
Drill with screw driver bit
Hinges
Slide bolts
Staple gun
Circular saw or jig saw
Scissors or utility blade

Instructions

Pick a relatively flat, sunny spot to build your greenhouse. This greenhouse would fall under the category of passive solar. Simply put there is no electricity run to it for heating. If you desire to have a heater for the winter weather then you will need to build this greenhouse close to an electrical receptacle or have a generator handy. When we build our greenhouse we actually had a structure we could recycle. The materials list provided are items we would have liked to have started with. However, to keep our costs low and in keeping with our philosophy of recycling we use an old make shift chicken coop. We were lucky that our former neighbors did not want to take the time or make the effort to remove this structure. We asked the current owner of the home if we might have it. It consisted of some 2x4's, old aluminum siding at the base and was covered in 1x2 woven wire (was used in the making of the chicken tractor). We made some modifications, encased it in the 10x20 plastic drop cloth and we had ourselves a nice little greenhouse. For shelving units we happened on some structures at our local Sears store that had been used to crate and ship riding lawn mowers. We asked what their plans were for the wood. They said if no one picked it up it would go to the landfill. Some further modifications and we had shelving.

Now to use the materials listed above you will need to layout for your top and bottom of your greenhouse first. Simply make two squares lining up the 2x6 boards and then screw the corners together. This makes your base and your top frame. We will be building from the bottom up, of course. Now you will definitely need another pair of hands, preferably an adult who can stretch their arms above their head easily. The next thing you will do is place one set of four 2x4's upright in each corner and secure them with screws. We recommend at least four screws per board.

The next thing you will want to do is have your helper help you lift the top frame up so that they can help hold it in place while you secure it the 2x4's with screws. We suggest that you do the corners diagonally when securing them. Once two opposite corners are secured it will make things go a little smoother.

Once all four top corners are secured, you have a the basic necessary structure for your greenhouse. Next step will be to put a supporting beam across the top of your greenhouse. We recommend using one 2x4 set one inch higher than the top frame. This will give your roof top enough angle for water to run off and not weigh the plastic down.

The next step is to use six 2x4 to form support for the sides and to have something to anchor shelving to. You will need to place on horizontally on the outside of the greenhouse on 3 sides and do the same only vertically from the inside.

On the side you have left open install and secure two 2x4 flush to the corner posts, securing at the top and bottom. This makes the frame for your door. Next you will take the piece or pieces of siding and install them to the top of the door frame from the inside. We recommend that you place it flush to the top of the 2x6 board. Next you will want to cut your sheet of plywood to 7 feet in length. Make sure you have your helper handy to hold the plywood in place. Line the plywood up so that your can place your hinges and slide bolts on.

Once you have hung your door and it closes nicely you are ready to enclose your greenhouse in plastic. Unroll the plastic drop cloth. The first thing you will want to do is bring one end over the top to just above the door, making it even with the bottom of the top board. Have your helper hold it in place while you staple it to the wood (make sure you have heavy staples that fit your staple gun). Once you have done this walk around to the back side of the greenhouse and pull the plastic securely to the bottom. Staple the plastic to the bottom board, then using either scissors or utility knife cut the plastic, even with the bottom board. Set the rest of the plastic aside and then wrap the plastic around the corner posts and staple along the sides. Staple the flaps from the roof to the top boards on both sides. Next cover the next side, line the side closest to the door up with the edge of the corner post and secure, then make sure to start at the top of the top board this will overlap the plastic. Staple down the sides, overlapping on the side opposite the door, the overlapping helps keep the heat inside where you want it and prevents excess moisture from entering the greenhouse (such as rain). Repeat with the last side.

For shelving you can collect up old book cases, shelving units, etc. Use your imagination, remember to recycle and reuse thereby reducing the amount of stuff entering the landfills