Solar Greenhouses, Underground
Author: Daniel Geery
Publisher:
Published: 1982
Total Pages: 432
ISBN-13:
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The Chinese Greenhouse
Author: Dan Chiras
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Published: 2020-11-03
Total Pages: 469
ISBN-13: 177142317X
DOWNLOAD EBOOK“A prescription for survival in this gorgeously illustrated and accessible guide to the future of farming.” —Albert Bates, author of The Biochar Solution Grow vegetables year-round in a greenhouse powered only by solar energy! Originally developed in China to feed millions, Chinese greenhouses are earth-sheltered, solar-heated, east-west oriented, intelligently glazed, and well-insulated. They have proven highly effective in growing warm-weather vegetables and fruits like green peppers and tomatoes in cold climates through fall, winter, and early spring using passive solar energy as the sole heat source. The Chinese Greenhouse is a full-color comprehensive guide to these passive solar greenhouses for self-sufficiency and growing year-round in soil or aquaponic grow beds with no additional heat. Coverage includes: How to design, build, and operate a Chinese greenhouse How to improve performance via short-term and long-term heat banking How to provide additional heat to make your greenhouse operate even more effectively How to cool the greenhouse during the summer. Become a more self-sufficient gardener, growing and harvesting a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, with your own Chinese greenhouse. “Wonderfully researched . . . brilliant.” —Jean-Martin Fortier, farmer and author of The Market Gardener, editor of Growers Magazine “Essential reading for pioneers of Chinese greenhouses.” —Pam Dawling, author of The Year-Round Hoophouse and Sustainable Market Farming “Every enthusiastic vegetable farmer dreams of this winter-growing miracle, and Dan shows how to do it.” —Shawna Coronado, author of 101 Organic Gardening Hacks
The Subterranean Greenhouse
Author: Barrett Williams
Publisher: Barrett Williams
Published: 2024-04-22
Total Pages: 103
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKDiscover the Hidden World of Horticulture Are you ready to unearth a revolutionary way to garden? Delve into "The Subterranean Greenhouse" and emerge into a realm where sustainability meets innovation beneath your very feet. Imagine reaping the bounty of a lush, vibrant garden, regardless of the harsh weather conditions above. With "The Subterranean Greenhouse", you will unlock a comprehensive guide to constructing, maintaining, and flourishing within your very own underground horticultural oasis. This compelling read provides you with a thorough understanding of the history and benefits of underground gardening, setting the foundation for a green revolution. Learn about the groundbreaking potential environmental impact, and how subterranean greenhouses could play a vital role in shaping a sustainable future. Transition seamlessly from concept to creation as you select the perfect spot for your garden. With careful considerations of soil, terrain, and climate, "The Subterranean Greenhouse" equips you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about location and design. Embark on an architectural journey that will lead you through the essential principles behind a thriving below-ground garden. From natural light and ventilation to insulation and temperature control, this book covers every angle to ensure your subterranean project is built on a solid foundation. Venture further into the nitty-gritty of construction as we explore sustainable building materials and the tools required to turn your vision into reality. Every step of the process is outlined, ensuring your path to an efficient and renewable energy garden is clear. Watch your garden grow as you master the interior layout, understand the importance of soil and composting in a new dimension, and grasp intricate water management. Plant selection and horticulture techniques, tailored for the unique underground environment, will pave the way for an abundant harvest. Push the boundaries of traditional gardening with smart greenhouse technology, ergonomic tools, and devices that cater to an underground gardener's needs. This book will help you build an ecosystem that promotes synergy where it’s least expected. Finally, broaden your perspective with real-world applications and grow your understanding of the legal and community implications of your green endeavor. Ground-breaking case studies will inspire, and a roadmap to your project's completion will guide you. "The Subterranean Greenhouse" - where dreams of cultivating in the benevolent embrace of the earth become a profound reality. Unlock the door to a sustainable future and let this be your guide to the greenery that awaits below.
The Forest Garden Greenhouse
Author: Jerome Osentowski
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
Published: 2015
Total Pages: 308
ISBN-13: 1603584269
DOWNLOAD EBOOKWith a revolutionary new "Climate Battery" design for near-net-zero heating and cooling By the turn of the nineteenth century, thousands of acres of glass houses surrounded large American cities, becoming a commonplace symbol of the market garden and nursery trades. But the possibilities of the indoor garden to transform our homes and our lives remain largely unrealized. In this groundbreaking book, Jerome Osentowski, one of North America's most accomplished permaculture designers, presents a wholly new approach to a very old horticultural subject. In The Forest Garden Greenhouse, he shows how bringing the forest garden indoors is not only possible, but doable on unlikely terrain and in cold climates, using near-net-zero technology. Different from other books on greenhouse design and management, this book advocates for an indoor agriculture using permaculture design concepts--integration, multi-functions, perennials, and polycultures--that take season extension into new and important territory. Osentowski, director and founder of Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (CRMPI), farms at 7,200 feet on a steep, rocky hillside in Colorado, incorporating deep, holistic permaculture design with practical common sense. It is at this site, high on a mountaintop, where Osentowski (along with architect and design partner Michael Thompson) has been designing and building revolutionary greenhouses that utilize passive and active solar technology via what they call the "climate battery"--a subterranean air-circulation system that takes the hot, moist, ambient air from the greenhouse during the day, stores it in the soil, and discharges it at night--that can offer tropical and Mediterranean climates at similarly high altitudes and in cold climates (and everywhere else). Osentowski's greenhouse designs, which can range from the backyard homesteader to commercial greenhouses, are completely ecological and use a simple design that traps hot and cold air and regulates it for best possible use. The book is part case study of the amazing greenhouses at CRMPI and part how-to primer for anyone interested in a more integrated model for growing food and medicine in a greenhouse. With detailed design drawings, photos, and profiles of successful greenhouse projects on all scales, this inspirational manual will considerably change the conversation about greenhouse design.
The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes
Author: Robert McConkey
Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company
Published: 2011
Total Pages: 290
ISBN-13: 1601383738
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe home, an essential part of the American dream, has been beset by troubles since the beginning of the Great Recession in 2007. Whether from an unstable housing economy, ever-rising energy costs, or the environmental ruin of urban sprawl, the origin and variety of these assaults can be bewildering. Surprisingly, some of the answers to many of these modern-day troubles lie in some of humanity's most ancient building techniques. Earth-sheltered building has existed since the heyday of Skara Brae in Scotland 5,000 years ago, and is used today by people around the world, from the Yaodong of north-west China to the subterranean residents of Coober Pedy, Australia, and even to converted missile silos in America. If you have ever looked at your power bill in stunned disbelief, if you are interested in green building techniques, or if you want your home to stand out (or hide out), then this book is for you. Contrary to popular misconceptions of being cramped, dark, or dank domiciles, earth-sheltered homes come in a number of different styles, incorporating brilliant techniques designed to bring light and air into the home. With The Complete Guide to Building Affordable Earth-Sheltered Homes, you will learn about the many different types of earth-sheltered homes and their various advantages, including a life span that can be two to three times longer than that of conventional housing, inexpensive building materials, and reduced maintenance costs. Additionally, the energy costs of an earth-sheltered home can be as much as 80 percent lower than a conventional homes power costs. The book will also examine the different environmental factors that you need to consider when selecting which style to build and how to begin, and carry out, your building process. Some of the factors discussed include the different types of soil and how to adjust to them, the level of precipitation and how to manage run off, and how to maximise use of natural light sources. Construction experts and earth-sheltered home builders have been interviewed and their expertise is included in this guide to help you learn how you can create your own underground home. Details of construction methods are found throughout the book, including tips and advice for planning, excavation, flooring, walls, framing, waterproofing, roofing, drainage, and insulation. You will also learn how to pour your own footings and floor, how to dry stack concrete block walls, how to use post and beam framing, and how to waterproof the membranes. With the information provided in this book, you can start planning and building your own earth-sheltered home in no time so that you, too, can benefit from the natural protection of the earth. If earth-sheltered building is good enough for Bill Gates $136 million mansion, then it just might be good enough for you too.
The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse
Author: Lindsey Schiller
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Published: 2016-10-01
Total Pages: 331
ISBN-13: 1550926187
DOWNLOAD EBOOKBuild your own passive solar greenhouse for year-round food production in any climate Fresh, local nutrient-dense fruits vegetables are hard to find in winter in cold climates. Growing warm-weather crops like tomatoes, bananas, avocados, and other perennials is nearly impossible using conventional structures. The solution for millions of backyard and small-scale commercial growers is self-heating solar greenhouses. The Year-round Solar Greenhouse is the one-stop guide to designing and building greenhouses that harness and store energy from the sun to create naturally heated, lush growing environments even in the depths of winter, covering principles of solar greenhouse design and siting, glazing material properties and selection, controlling heat loss, ventilation, and construction methods. Additionally, an in-depth section covers sustainable ways of heating the greenhouse without fossil fuels, including using thermal mass and storing heat underground with a ground to air heat exchanger. Variations include attached solar greenhouses, earth sheltered greenhouses, plus integrating hydroponics and aquaponics. More than a dozen case studies from across North America provide inspiration and demonstrate specific challenges and solutions for growing year-round in any climate. Grow your own food, anytime, anywhere using the power of the sun!
Soil and Sacrament
Author: Fred Bahnson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2013-08-06
Total Pages: 288
ISBN-13: 1451663307
DOWNLOAD EBOOKRecounts the author's experiences founding a faith-based community garden in rural North Carolina, and emphasizes how growing one's own food can help readers reconnect with the land and divine faith.
The End of Country
Author: Seamus McGraw
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Published: 2012-07-10
Total Pages: 258
ISBN-13: 0812980646
DOWNLOAD EBOOK“A rare, honest, beautiful, and, yes, sometimes heartbreaking examination of the echoes of water-powered natural gas drilling—or fracking—in the human community . . . vivid, personal and emotional.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune Susquehanna County, in the remote northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, is a community of stoic, low-income dairy farmers and homesteaders seeking haven from suburban sprawl—and the site of the Marcellus Shale, a natural gas deposit worth more than one trillion dollars. In The End of Country, journalist and area native Seamus McGraw opens a window on the battle for control of this land, revealing a conflict that pits petrodollar billionaires and the forces of corporate America against a band of locals determined to extract their fair share of the windfall—but not at the cost of their values or their way of life. Rich with a sense of place and populated by unforgettable personalities, McGraw tells a tale of greed, hubris, and envy, but also of hope, family, and the land that binds them all together. “To tell a great story, you need a great story. Seamus McGraw . . . has lived a great story. . . . [He] is just one of its many characters—very real characters—caught up in a very human story in which they must make tough, life-altering decisions for themselves, their community, and ultimately their country.”—Allentown Morning Call “Compelling . . . The End of Country is like a phone call from a close friend or relative living smack-dab in the middle of the Pennsylvania gas rush. . . . Anyone with even a passing interest in the [fracking debate should] read it.”—Harrisburg Patriot-News “This cautionary tale should be required reading for all those tempted by the calling cards of easy money and precarious peace of mind.”—Tom Brokaw “A page-turner . . . McGraw brings us to the front lines of the U.S. energy revolution to deliver an honest and humbling account that could hardly possess greater relevance.”—The Humanist
Potatoes on Rooftops
Author: Hadley Dyer
Publisher:
Published: 2012
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13: 9781554514243
DOWNLOAD EBOOKOffers tips and techniques for urban gardening and includes an overview of the how and why of the movement.
The Northlands Winter Greenhouse Manual
Author: Carol Ford
Publisher:
Published: 2009-07-28
Total Pages: 118
ISBN-13: 9780615297248
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAddresses issues of food safety, food security, energy use and local self-sufficiency by describing the design, construction, and operation of a solar greenhouse system for winter vegetable production in cold, harsh climates. Is based on actual, successful, real world experience.
