"Doug Houseman" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Diana Kulaga" wrote:

A friend helped me build a shelving systemg. It consists of five steps
up,
made with (at that time) treated lumber slats. There are two sections,
each
six feet long and just less than five feet high. This allows about a
two-foot
access space between the sections and at the ends.


Chris, I wouldn't mind seeing this system over on abpo, if you have time
to
take the photos and post them. I'm having a hard time picturing it, and
I'm
always looking for ways to increase my space.

Diana

I use pre cut step boards to create step up units...mine are 4, 5 and 6
steps high. I also use plastic lattice as a roof over my orchids (about
60% shade. Each unit is built 4 x 8 feet in size. In the spring the
shelf boards (which are held in place by gravity) are removed and we
carry the units out of the greenhouse around to the east side of the
house and set them up in the weather for the summer. I have 4 units that
we move each spring and fall. I use the lattice "roof" in the spring to
start seedlings of tomatoes and other garden plants - this helps cut the
direct sunlight at mid day more..

End view...


---------------- Lattice roof
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 2 x 4 on edge every 4 feet
X X 2 x 4 vertical every 4 feet
X X
X X
==== X top shelf
PPPP ==== X
X OPPPP=== X
X O PPPPPP===X
XXXXXXXXXPPPPPPX

Where P is 4 step pressure treated desk stairs runner
Where = is 2 x 6 cedar shelf boards 8 feet long
Where X is a 2 x 4
Where - is white plastic lattice
Where the "O" in OPPPP is a 2 4 that runs the length of the bench
(parallel to the shelf boards and is used to secure the 3 frames (one at
8 inches in, one at the mid point 4 feet in and one at the other end 8
inches in)...
Where the other O is a similar 2 x4 that is attached at the base

I use 3 1 x 2 to run the length of the top under the lattice to keep it
from sagging too badly - 6 inches in from front and back and in the
center - they run the same direction as the shelf boards...


Hope this helps - the bench once dry (about 4 months for the pressure
treated boards to get fully dry) weighs about 60 pounds and 2 in shape
adults can easily move it from place to place. We normally balance it on
our garden wagon to roll it - spring and fall.

Doug

Shelving is always an entertaining topic. Bob Gordon in his phalaenopsis
books describes stepped shelving running from eye level to the ground with
55 gallon drums (heat sink) in the resulting space beneath. I went with
flat benches covered with those egg-crate light diffusers at alittle better
than waist height so I could stick shelves underneath if necessary. Gold
Country (and the now defunct Orchid House) has flat benches that roll from
one side to the other, yeilding only one aisle whose position changes as the
bench moves from side to side, making more bench space, less aisle space.
Others have skipped benches all together and made walls covered in wire so
the plants hang from the wall. I believe Ray once looked for a plan
described in the AOS Bulletin where such a wall also housed a drip watering
system. Simplest is just to stack cinder blocks and put wire mesh on that.
Speaking of wire mesh I put the 4x4 inch wire mesh used to strengthen
concrete overhead to hang plants in any variety of positions, not just along
a rod or pole.