Ask a Prepper
  • DIY |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Privacy Policy |
  • Contact
ask a prepper survival every day
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Survival Knowledge
  • How To’s
  • Store
  • About Claude Davis
  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Survival Knowledge
  • How To’s
  • Store
  • About Claude Davis
No Result
View All Result
Menu
Ask a Prepper
Search
No Result
View All Result
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Home All Articles
DIY Poor Man’s Greenhouse

DIY Poor Man’s Greenhouse

John Evans by John Evans
March 17, 2023
25

As a prepper, you need to be well-prepared for any crisis. For instance, you should know how to use survival off-grid tools, build a shelter, or grow enough food for your family.

Without electricity, water, or modern infrastructure, a simple greenhouse can be a good idea to grow your favorite plants. Remember that greenhouses are structures that allow you to control the environment that favors plant growth.

With a small greenhouse in your backyard, vegetables and fruits will grow in humid and warm conditions during winter.

I will demonstrate how to build a poor man’s greenhouse in this project. Also, I will include all the practical steps I used.

Related: 7 DIY Prepper Projects You Can Make This Spring

This project can take less than 30 minutes if you have all the necessary supplies within your home’s compound. However, it might be longer if you must gather supplies outside your compound.

Here are the steps I took.

Find Materials

For survival, the idea would be to use durable but economical materials. I used PVC pipes, a polythene cover, and a few lumber panels for the garden bed. All these materials were budget-friendly, with some available in my compound.

I decided to use polythene paper for the greenhouse cover because it is often the best material for different climates.

I used durable green PVC pipes because they flex easily without breaking the greenhouse hoop frame.

Choose An Ideal Area

Similar to a survival garden, the second step is choosing the ideal spot to build the greenhouse. You need an area that receives enough direct sunlight.

Never build the greenhouse under a tree or a roof because these obstructions prevent sunlight from hitting the greenhouse.

You should also confirm that the ground is level for the greenhouse to be firm.

Finally, check whether the drainage is adequate.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

My greenhouse was next to a dried tree stump. So, that was also another reason I chose a raised garden bed. I knew that the tree had used up all the nutrients in the soil over the years it had been alive.

Prepare The Backyard

After you find the correct spot, prepare it well. I found an ideal area and cleared the ground by removing all stones, rocks, weeds, and wild grass.

Build The Garden Bed Perimeter

It is necessary to build a garden bed to provide a foundation for the soil.

I used a raised rectangular garden bed because, in this situation, it provides adequate drainage and gives the soil good aeration. I also learned that beds prevent pests and weeds from thriving – which is great.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

Therefore, I used 7 feet by 5 feet garden bed to increase the volume of plant growth. Though, you can adjust the measurements according to your preferences and the space you have.

Materials:

  • Old lumbers
  • Used nails
  • Old wood screws
  • Black vapor barrier
  • Staples and pins

DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

Fill The Garden Bed

I filled the garden bed with standard gardening soil, organic compost, and topsoil to provide enough properties that guarantee plant growth.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

Afterward, I used a rake to level and clear the topsoil before I planted the seedling. I left a 5-centimeter allowance from the tip of the bed to prevent the soil from overflowing whenever I watered the garden.

You can add organic additives like peat moss in the greenhouse to grow acid-loving plants like pepper or sweet potatoes.

Cutting Metal Rebars

You need eight pieces of (⅜ inches x 1 foot) rebars to support the PVC pipes. I used a 1-foot-long metal rebar because the soil in my bed was firm. DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

You can cut longer rebars that sink deep in the garden bed if your soil is loose. You can use more metal rebars if you want a bigger greenhouse.

Inserting The Rebars

Evenly mark where to put them along the length of the garden bed after all the support rebars are ready. Though, these posts should be directly opposite each other for uniformity.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

I hammered my metal posts 2 feet apart to support the greenhouse. But you should leave a few inches peeping above the ground.

Cutting And Positioning The PVC

After everything, you need to cut the PVC according to the length of your garden bed. In my case, I cut 7 feet long PVC pipes.

Related: 10 Survival DIY Projects You Can Start on Your Property Right Now

Slide one end of the PVC pipe on one post, then bend and insert the other end on the opposite rebar post.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

Continue until all the hoops are in place. If you like, add a horizontal running PVC pipe to increase support.

Before laying the polythene cover, I added a horizontal PVC pipe to support my greenhouse.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

Always tie the horizontal PVC pipe underneath the hoops because it works better when tying up the polythene cover to the PVC pipe.

Drawing The Polythene Cover

Draw the polythene sheeting to cover the entire structure and secure it after all the hoops are secure.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

I secured the sheeting with a few paving blocks to ensure the greenhouse had enough tension and did not lose moisture from any open spaces along the floor.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

Fertilizing The Greenhouse

Always use organic vegetable waste as fertilizer to provide enough nutrients for plant growth in the greenhouse.

For even more helpful information on how to grow your own food, check out this guide on how to make a year-round self-sustaining garden.DIY Poor Man's Greenhouse

What You Need To Consider

If possible, build the greenhouse in an area that is not visible from the outside of your property, so it doesn’t attract looters in an SHTF situation.

A small indoor greenhouse would be ideal if you don’t have the space to build an outdoor greenhouse. Indoor greenhouses allow you to grow food even in bad weather.

Polythene covers are necessary to keep the greenhouse warm in winter. On the contrary, row plant covers are critical for keeping critters, birds, rodents, and other persistent pests away from your outdoor nursery.

Remember to include beneficial herbs that might be used as medicine for your family in a survival situation.

You may also like:

No-Electricity Cooking Techniques To Use During A Power Outage

Cheap And Easy Way To Build A Root Cellar in Your Backyard (Video)

The Only 4 Painkillers You Need to Stockpile For SHTF

Why You Should Freeze Flour Before Storing It

5 Things You Can Do If People Find Out You’re A Prepper

Tags: DIYself-sufficiencysurvival
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
ShareTweetPin27

Comments 25

  1. Farmer says:
    5 days ago

    I appreciate the article and it’s intention, however, only the naive would believe that you could grow enough food to survive. Supplement maybe but thrive and survive, no. It might take several acres, cooperative weather and intense effort to live off of a garden.

    Did you like this comment? 25
    12
    Reply
    • Jeremiah J Neumann says:
      5 days ago

      It only takes 1/10th of a acre to feed a family of 4 and then you can still make $3000 plus per year selling extras.
      It is how you do it, that matters.
      Check out permaculture

      Did you like this comment? 40
      2
      Reply
      • Cindy says:
        4 days ago

        I’d like to know how that’s done.

        Did you like this comment?
    • City Chick says:
      5 days ago

      There was a report on the local news here about an civil engineer with a green thumb, who turned a shipping container into an organic farm which produces the equivalent of 2 acres of produce and is all controlled automatically from an iPad. On the iPad there is an APP that he developed for each specific crop he grows. This enables him to control and create the perfect micro environment for each crop. Seeds are sowed embedded in flat screens. Grow lights are embedded in flat screens. All of the screens are remote controlled. Amazing.

      Did you like this comment? 15
      1
      Reply
      • Maggie says:
        5 days ago

        Let’s all go buy shipping containers! 🤪

        Did you like this comment? 7
        2
    • Marilyn says:
      5 days ago

      I believe if you follow a plant based diet , you could do very well eating only from your garden. I really don’t think it would require several acres either.

      Did you like this comment? 14
      2
      Reply
      • Pamala McBrayer Swinnea says:
        4 days ago

        English “Victory Gardens” saved civilians from going hungry during WW2. Most people were working with about 1/4 acre or less. Rationing restricted access to meat/cheese, even eggs…unless you could grow your own. We are coming back around to patio gardening that can be sustained on carts in garages in winter with grow lights. Suddenly there is a real use for a sunroom or conservatory!

        Did you like this comment? 6
      • Leonora Ivie says:
        4 days ago

        Yay, more plastic. What ever happened to planting in the ground? Why do you need raised beds. I grew tomatoes, beans, peas, cauliflower, corn, 3different kinds of squash, all in the ground. Also that greenhouse wouldn’t work everywhere. Where I live (southern Arizona) we get lots of strong winds and then there’s the 100 + degree sun in the summer that pretty much rots everything.

        Did you like this comment? 4
        1
    • Brad W says:
      4 days ago

      Hmmmm, I am guessing “Farmer” is just a screen name for you. My mother was one of 10 kids. They had a garden about 1/8 of an acre that kept them fed and stored food for the winter. When you use your space properly and rotate your crops through spring, summer, and fall, you have three growing seasons. Yes, it is VERY possible.

      Did you like this comment? 3
      Reply
    • Janeen says:
      4 days ago

      I beg to differ with your post. I grew up in Northern Minnesota. We had maybe an acre or two of land. Mom & Dad had a garden in less than 1/4 of the property. They grew all kinds of veggies for a family of 8. We hunted, fished, raised rabbits and had the veggies we grew, both fresh and canned. I remember shelling peas, beans, shucking corn, pulling carrots, beets, radishes, rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, wiping and snapping wax and green beans, rhubarb, hazel nuts, plums, 2 types of squash, cabbage, lettuce, etc. We would go out hunting wild strawberries, raspberries & blueberries, we even had a crab apple & choke cherry trees. That was enough to feed us well all year and even some to can and keep in the cellar for fresh in the winter months. It most certainly didn’t take many acres to feed 8 and stash away for healthy winter eating. You just had to know what you were doing.

      Did you like this comment? 7
      Reply
      • MarlenMarlenee says:
        3 days ago

        I don’t think some people realize this is to be a small greenhouse to help grow food in WINTER as stated in the 3rd paragraph. Grow some food or get some crops started early for spring planting. Different parts of the country may not need that help, but those of us with cold and snowy winters may get some use from it. Not sure how low temps could get and still survive, but I like the idea.

        Did you like this comment? 5
  2. christopher says:
    5 days ago

    Excellent
    Since the collapse of monetary system will start end of year , this will be absolutely necessary for food supply due to delivery system being stopped by the elite village idiots in charge

    Did you like this comment? 18
    3
    Reply
    • KeKKellKelly Corinne Eliott says:
      5 days ago

      Indeed! It’s already begun, and it will only get worse! Start planning now! I also regrow as much as I can from store-purchased produce (lettuce, celery, green onions, onions, carrots, rutabagas, potatoes, tomatoes (use the seeds!), and anything else that I can regrow. Since I live on 10 acres, I use small areas here and there to plant things that will continue to grow year after year.

      Did you like this comment? 12
      1
      Reply
  3. Jesse Glessner says:
    5 days ago

    I did my hoop house a bit different than yours.
    1. First I cut down the soil where I was going to place blocks.
    2. Then I set blocks that are made for holding 2″ X 4″ pieces to hold the 4″ X 4″ surround and leveled those.
    3. I then spaced and pounded down 12″ long PVC in 1″ to hold the 3/4″ HOOPS,
    4. Hoops were made from 2 ea 10 ft. long pieces glued together.
    5. I set one end of those and let them dangle a bit (in the sun) so they would start drooping.
    6. Once I determined they would go all the way down into the 1″ pieces on the other side those were installed.
    7. I placed 2 sheets of 1/2″ plywood side by side – lengthwise on the cement driveway.
    8. Then it was time to take one hoop out to the driveway and lay it down spaced out exactly as those when installed into the 1″ pieced in the ground – using blocks and bricks to hold it in place. I just drew the arch of the hoop onto the plywood and then used a saber saw to cut out the end pieces.
    9. I took ideas from those seen on the Internet and designed the ends with framing for rigidity and doorways. I cut a rectangle dead-on top center to allow a 2″ X 4″ to stand on edge and get assembled on both ends with other 2″ X 4′ pieces for attachments. The ends were painted white – both sides and the doors installed on hinges.
    10. When both ends were assembled and set up, I made sure that both ends were plumbed and the on the sides 2″ X 4″ pieces were installed to stabilize the ends.
    11. I installed a layer of 6 Mil Plastic sheeting over the whole hoop house.
    12. I then installed netting with 1″ squares to hold the second layer of sheeting up off of the first layer.
    13. I then installed the second layer of 6 Mil Plastic sheeting.
    14. Both layers of sheeting and netting were attached to the end pieces.
    15. On both sides at the bottom we rolled up the excess layering materials up on a 1″ X 1″ piece of wood to both help hold the materials down and for rolling up somewhat for venting.
    16. Installed some wooden pieces to keep the doors closed.

    Did you like this comment? 23
    2
    Reply
    • Barbara says:
      5 days ago

      Photo?

      Did you like this comment? 11
      Reply
    • Charlie Russom says:
      5 days ago

      Can you take a picture and post it? A picture is worth a thousand words. I saw a hoop house on a episode of a guy who helps people who want to live on their own, I believe in Alaska. But did not see the entire build. I am thinking of a PVC greenhouse. I have seen the plans for this green house, which includes a door and a window. Add misters and it would be perfect.

      Did you like this comment? 8
      Reply
  4. Rox says:
    5 days ago

    Jesse…thank you for the information but a photo would have been nice to go along with all of the detailed info you provided.

    Did you like this comment? 11
    1
    Reply
    • red ant says:
      5 days ago

      “You cannot put-up photos on this site”…

      so, you will have to use your imagination, if you want to see what “Jesse Gasser” was wanting to tell everyone.

      Thank you for your input on how you built your hoop green house.

      stay sharp

      Did you like this comment? 6
      1
      Reply
      • Oldman says:
        5 days ago

        For those who want to to show their handiwork they could post a link to a file in a cloud storage (google drive). Just make sure to make it public 😁

        Did you like this comment? 6
        1
  5. Patsy Morgan says:
    5 days ago

    I’ve had raised beds for years and found its better to have a narrower bed (I have four) so you can weed in the center and harvest easier. My 6 feet wide bed was too much but the 3 to 4 foot ones are perfect.

    Did you like this comment? 13
    Reply
  6. ArsePoetica says:
    5 days ago

    Couple people near me built PVC pipe greenhouses, last week a typical Texas thunderstorm destroyed them. Not a practical construction method, if a greenhouse is going to be important to your food supply build it from wood or steel.

    Did you like this comment? 5
    Reply
    • BillBill says:
      4 days ago

      Yes, the same thing happened here in S/W Fl… Only houses and all went with it! Along with all of your hard work it pays to keep a good attitude just in the case you have to start over!

      Did you like this comment? 1
      Reply
  7. Wendell McQueary says:
    5 days ago

    As far as a hoop greenhouse goes, it works great depending on size. I used one in my garden in NC. When it got warm enough that I didn’t need the plastic covering, I swapped the plastic for deer-netting. The beds I covered were two 3’X8′ beds with a 2′ walkway between them. I used gray electrical 1/2″ conduit (very inexpensive), it comes in 10′ & 20′ sticks.

    Did you like this comment? 3
    Reply
  8. Rob says:
    4 days ago

    If a poor man can’t build a green house you could stand up in it really ain’t worth building

    Did you like this comment? 2
    Reply
  9. Pec says:
    4 days ago

    Yahoo seriously.

    Did you like this comment? 1
    1
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions Terms & Conditions.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

FOLLOW US ON:

PREPPER RECOMMENDS

YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE AN EMP STRIKE WITHOUT THIS

IF YOU SEE THIS PLANT IN YOUR BACKYARD BURN IT IMMEDIATELY

HOW TO GET 295 POUNDS OF EXTRA FOOD FOR JUST $5 A WEEK

THE AWESOME DIY DEVICE THAT TURNS AIR INTO FRESH WATER

5 INGENIOUS WAYS TO REFRIGERATE YOUR FOOD WITHOUT ELECTRICITY

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE INVISIBLE TO LOOTERS

Banner Generator

LATEST ARTICLES

DIY Poor Man’s Greenhouse

Why You Should Put A Silver Coin In Water

7 Stores Where You Can Buy Cheap Survival Food

Essential Survival Know-Hows Modern People Have Forgotten

What Happens If China Becomes The Ruling Economic Power Of The World

How To Treat And Heal Wounds With Sugar

5 Ways To Actually Use FEMA To Your Advantage

Long-Lasting Amish Burgers

How To Get Back Home After An EMP Strike

Why You Should Bury A Trash Can In Your Backyard

6 Signs Your Neighbor Will Become A Looter As Soon As SHTF

Ancient Types Of Homes You Can Build For Cheap

5 Unexpected Events Following An Economic Crisis That No One Talks About

How To Recondition Old Gasoline

Veggies You Only Plant Once And Harvest Forever

20 Prepping Items That Will Skyrocket In Price This Year

How To Use An Old Refrigerator For Survival

6 Places You Can Go Dumpster Diving For Your Prepper Stockpile

Great Depression Foods We Will All Be Eating Again Soon

Prepping Projects From The Bible

When The World Runs Out Of Food, This Is All You Need

Why You Need To Hide Your Harvested Rainwater

11 Fatal Mistakes To Avoid When Bugging Out

Banner Bor

Banner TLW2

The Lost Ways Claude Davis

HOW TO

How To Recondition Old Gasoline

How To Remove Radioactive Particles From Water In Case Of A Nuclear Fallout

How To Make Bread Last For Up To 5 Years

How To Prepare Your Car For SHTF

How To Cook Steak On A Stone In The Wilderness

How To Craft A Deadly Slingshot

How To Make Your Chickens Lay More Eggs

How To Make And Can Evaporated Milk

How To Prepare For The Rising Energy Prices

How To Protect Your Garden From Looting Intruders

Vote for ask a Prepper

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON:

Survial Websites Prepper

Banner LSF Hamburger

Copyright © 2014-2023 Ask a Prepper

  • Home
  • All Articles
  • Ask a Prepper
  • About Claude Davis
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2014-2023 Ask a Prepper

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.