Current – We have wanted/needed a greenhouse on the property for some time, but have not had the funds.  But, the other day Cindy had a great idea (she actually saw it in a dream).  We have a large wooden fort/swing set/play set in the backyard.  The fort section is elevated about six feet off the ground, and there is an open 8×8 foot space underneath.  She had the great idea of wrapping this area with tarps or plastic to make it into a small greenhouse.  Brilliant!

So, last Sunday we took off on this project.  I looked at some DIY designs online, and decided to use poly sheeting for the walls, and use batten boards to attach the plastic to the play set frame.  For well less than $50, we now have a functional little winter greenhouse to store our plants that need protection, and start some early seeds and seedlings for flowers and herbs!

Here is a list of materials used (all available at the local home improvement store):

1 – Roll 6mil poly sheeting
25-30 – 1x2x8 furring strips
4 – 2x2x8 furring strips
2 – 2x4x8 pressure treated boards
1 – piece of ¼” plywood
1 – 1# box 1 ¼” course thread exterior screws
Handful – 2” course thread exterior screws
1 – Screen door hinge kit
1 – Bale hay straw

Below are the steps we took to build the greenhouse along with some pictures.  This is not a complete step-by-step guide, but you will get the general idea.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

First, we put up the two 2×4’s used to create the door frame:

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