GH Shed

Greenhouse/Potting Shed.

The garden is not adjacent to the house because the house is on a hill and the property has bottom land for pastures and gardens.  The greenhouse/potting/tool shed needed to be a general purpose building.  In 2004, I looked at several designs and thought about purchase a ready to use shed but could not find one that fit all my needs.  Idaho counties have full control over building construction except for agricultural buildings used in farming or a freestanding solar collectors not greater than 200 square feet and no higher than 10 feet above grade.  The permitting process for a self designed building is a nightmare and I avoid at all cost.  My design was L shaped with the long leg of the L measuring 8.4 by 16.8 feet and the short leg of L measuring 5 X 8.4 feet for a total of 181.44 feet footprint.  Overhangs were not included so with overhangs the building measures 16.5 by 19 feet. This provides a green house 4x8 feet, covered area 12x8 feet, and an enclosed headhouse for green house 8x16 feet.  The covered area stores lawn mowers and other gas powered tools.  It has benches and shelves for storage and work space.  There is a anvil stand and vise for metal work.  The headhouse stores pots, garden tools, potting mix and stuff.  The green house is accessed through the headhouse.  It has two benches measuring 18 inches by 7 feet plus a little more bench space for plants.   

The shed was built on a concrete slab using 2x6 on 24 inch centers and T111 siding.  Metal roofing was used because of the low pitch to keep within the 10 feet height requirement.  It is insulated with 2 inch foam.  The headhouse is accessed through 32 inch storm doors.   The doors act as a gate for our electric fence so the headhouse has two to allow garden access through the headhouse.  

Solar power only

For the first 15 years I just used a solar panel for lights and limited power tool use.  

Winter Heat

The addition of 240 V power to the shed in 2019 provided an opportunity to heat the shed during the winter.  The shed had used a combination of solar and Coleman propane heater.   The solar power was limited by our cloudy winter days and the propane heater work for short visit but not as a long term heat source.  

A 15" Visionair Electric Utility Heater (Model 1VAHW152P) was purchased from Spence True Value Hardwood Store for $25 in 2025.   It is a 120V 1300/1500 watt heater with metal case, thermostat and tip over sensor.  The instructions are in super fine print and basically not readable without a microscope. 

I used a 15 amp rated extension cord so the heater could be plugged in to the closest 120 V power source.  

The heater is rated for rooms up to 160 square feet.  This is slightly smaller than the 183 square feet of the shed but seems to work.  Initial tests of the heater showed 1500 watt and low thermostat setting would raise the temperature 20 degree of the greenhouse above the outside temperature.  The heater is not sufficient to heat the greenhouse above freezing when temperatures are less than 12 degrees.  

New Windows

In July 2025 after 21 years the polycarbonate windows were replaced.  The new windows were purchased from Home Depot.  I was in-store purchased of 2 sheets measuring 2x8 feet of 1/4" and online purchased of 2 sheets measuring 4x8 feet with a thickness of 1/4".   The polycarbonate sheets were fastened to the greenhouse using 1/4 thick wood strips that were salvaged from other projects.  Cost of materials was <$300.