More pics from Four Season (not seasons, that’s a horse farm) Farm. Right click for full-sized pics.
The new movable greenhouse system puts the ghs on tracks with wheels. These are the same wheels used on the gates of chain link fencing.
A tool shed.
A heated bench for seed starting.
Filed under: Farm
I’m excited for you, Robin!
What a fascinating concept! Move your greenhouse to the best place as the seasons change. I’m looking forward to seeing what changes you’ll make in your operations as you expand.
That’s so cool! In my first couple of years, I used to pore over every detail of the color photos in the center of his Four-Season Harvest, especially the one with the greenhouse interior showing the workbench. Just to see what he was actually doing on his own farm.
Hi Robin,
I’m toying with the idea of a movable cold frame but am having a bit of a hard time figuring out just how to move it. I see that Eliot has his on wheels…how is it tied into the ground? I have winds here on the Prairies to mitigate. Also, the second hand ‘greenhouse’ I’m thinking of purchasing has wooden ribs and will correspondingly be heavier than aluminum (it’s ~90′ long).
Any ideas from anyone most appreciated. I’m thinking the only way forward with my short season is to put cover over the entire field (not feasible) or make sure the ‘greenhouse’ moves. Does he move them with the plastic on?
Thanks so much! Sheri
Hi Sheri,
I’m going to have to ask Steve how the track is secured to the ground. I don’t remember!
These greenhouses are steel, not aluminum. They’re very heavy. My 22 x 48 weighs more than a ton. I wouldn’t try to move a 90′ long house. I’d break it into two 45′ houses. Do leave the poly on. It doesn’t add a lot of weight to the house and since it’s on wheels, it should roll easily. I’ll ask Steve about the track and get back to you.
That would be great. Having a hard time visualizing how the wheels on that rod don’t sink into the ground too…
I asked Steve. That’s all there is to it. It’s on a piece of ground that drains and dries quickly. That’s good news for me – I have a little bit of land like that.
wow…and it doesn’t fly away!
I have been in contact with someone who has hoop houses in BC and they use angle iron, 3″ x 2″ x 1/4″ and weld the arches to the iron. The 3″ part is on the ground and acts like a ski. He puts loops on the iron and then pounds 3′ rebar into the ground 2.5′. The last 6″ he has it bent over the loop. His doesn’t sink into the ground too much either and he moves the hoop houses w/2 tractors.
There’s some more info here:
http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/publications/bcog/Vol5N1.pdf
http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/publications/bcog/Vol5N2.pdf
Thanks for your time Robin!
That sounds similar to Eliot’s first moveable houses. They slide on rails that sit on the ground (no wheels). All of the houses are anchored to keep them from blowing. He anchors to posts each time he moves them. Mine are permanently sunken into the ground now but I do plan to add at least one house on wheels. It’s hard to beat 6,000 sq ft a year with a 1,000 sq ft house. Good luck!
Oh! And thanks for these links!