Welcome Casey, I see you already have been given some great info
so just want to mention that if you do a Google search in rgo
under 'Groups' you will find previous discussions with lots of tips
and hints etc.
--
Cheers Wendy

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Casey Wilson wrote:
Hello,

Up front, I'm an orchid admirer but not a grower. I've tried a
couple of times, but up here in the north end of California's share
of the Mojave Desert, it ain't an easy task. Mostly I end up driving
over to the left coast every year or so and buying a few plants from
the commercial growers. What I am searching for are knowledgeable
folks about greenhouses. I searched through the newsgroups available
on my GTE/Verizon ISP server and can't find any reference. I figure
that more than one or two of you folks must have greenhouses attached
to the house or over in the back yard. My back yard is 2 1/2
acres of excellent drainage. I'm doodling around with various sketches for
a covered sun-pit. My rationale for digging
the greenhouse in has to do with the climate extremes AND the
ferocious winds we occasionally experience. Our record low
temperature was +5F in December, 1993; high was 121F but I don't
recall the year; every spring we have spells of winds in excess of
40MPH with gusts over 50, sometimes lasting for days. I figure
having the bottom five or six feet of the greehouse below grade level
shields me from the wind to some degree and the natural
insulation of the ground helps keep the inside atmosphere stable.
I've lots of other details about evaporative cooling, humidity
control, passive solar heating (and cooling), yadda, yadda. The
greenhouse will be multi-purpose; including flowers, edibles, and
bonsai. I've found great resources for materials and ideas over
the span of the internet, inlcuding materials and reading material.
But sometimes it helps to dialog with live people.
I promise not to be offended if you tell me to go away.

Regards,

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer and Photographer