Lovely cottage greenhouse made of recycled windows.I’ve been wanting a greenhouse for years. I’d like to have a conservatory but since that’s not likely to happen. I’ll settle for a quaint little structure made from salvaged materials.
All the helpful information I’ve read suggests larger is better when it comes to greenhouses. Probably. Even so, we’re starting small. I’m not sure how much I’ll actually use it because anything started inside has to move outside at some point and then the deer will dine.
Four of them are lined up outside right now eyeing the flowers on the deck, just waiting for me to go get a cup of coffee. You think I’m kidding. These are ninja ungulates – stealthy and sneaky. Yes, the deer are cute…until they move in and set up house under the evergreens and stare through your windows.
I hope the lack of opposable thumbs will halt the infiltration. The zucchini depend on our clever design. So we’ve collected a bunch of old windows. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just hold in some heat. The outbuildings we’re building beside are rustic, so the slapdash sort of approach will fit right into the landscape.
Share and tell time.
Have any experience with glass house green-thumbery? Whip out the pictures. Include the links. Make some comments or suggestions, warnings or concerns. Aren’t these the cutest?
I think I really just want a cottage in the woods.
Lesann Berry 
#1 by Traci Kenworth on April 20, 2012 - 1:27 am
Any of them look fantastic. Which did you choose? Or did you go with an entirely different model?
#2 by corajramos on April 20, 2012 - 11:26 am
I had a greenhouse years ago, about 15′ x20′ and loved it. So much to think about with a greenhouse. If you live in a temperate climate you have much less problems. I live in area with VERY hot summers. So if you don’t have proper ventilation you will fry your plants (I had indoor plants that don’t like too hot sun). Then you need to watch for insect infestations that breed quickly on plants in greenhouses. Still, it was great fun.
#3 by Leslie on April 20, 2012 - 12:45 pm
Thanks for the heads-up, Cora! A 15×20 greenhouse is palatial compared to the closet-sized one I’m probably getting. I’m in the Pacific Northwest so the temperatures are pretty mild but even here the summer heat will cook the interior pretty fast. We had some friends that built one but then had to leave the doors open or it overheated. The deer cruised through every evening and ate the salad greens. Beautiful. I hadn’t thought about the possibility of insect infestations – might have to bring the chickens in for a weekly feast.
I don’t know how the ancestors did it…cows and fish and pigs…I’m grateful for grocery stores.
#4 by corajramos on April 20, 2012 - 12:49 pm
Yea, grocery stores!
#5 by Leslie on April 20, 2012 - 12:40 pm
I’d be happy with any of these but after looking at all the old windows we’ve salvaged…I’m a bit skeptical ours will turn out, um, so architecturally stable. There might even be some doubt that the windows (which all seem much larger now), are even going to fit together in a workable pattern. I’ll keep you posted. lol
#6 by Lucia Helena Mendonça on February 7, 2016 - 9:40 am
I loved your idea. Congratulations. I would like to have one.
#7 by Lesann Berry on March 2, 2016 - 1:15 pm
Thanks, Lucia. I hope you get to have one too!