On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 16:12:47 -0500, "James" wrote:

I have been thinking of building a garden shed with windows on
one side. I have seen pics of ones that have a steep front roof with
windows extending from near the top to near the bottom. It looks ideal
for starting seedlings, extending plants past the season and various
other things. Does anyone have any experience with such structures?

One version of this is a Nearing Frame which was designed by Guy Nearing
in Ramsey, New Jersey, to root rhododendron cuttings. His had a slant
root the top of which faced the south. The planting beds were on the
north side of the roof and underneath it. The beds received no sun
light since they only had a northern exposure. The glass was placed
horizontally over the beds. You need less glass that way. To work in
the beds, you just raise panes or remove them.

If you google "nearing frame" you will get complete instructions for
building one.

If you want more light, you can place the Nearing Frame to the south of
a white wall. Then the light will be reflected, but the heat will not
burn the seedlings or cuttings. An even better idea is to have white
roofs on multiple frames and line them up so the roof of one reflects
light into the one behind it. Also paint all surfaces white for more
light. The roof can be translucent as long as it filters out the infra
red rays. This is to keep from burning the plants.
--
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