GreenhousesTypes and Construction

Including framework and coverings

State Competencies

•8002 Intro to Agriscience

– 042 Describe new Agricultural Engineering techniques

•8003 Agriscience Explorations

– 045 Identify research in agricultural engineering technology

•8012 Ag Production and Management

– 054 Plan and design a farm structure

– 063 Prepare a landuse plan

•8017 Agricultural Structural Systems

– 034 Identify safety procedures and equipment necessary for AG structural systems

•8035 Greenhouse Plant Production & Management

– 049 Explore Greenhouse and/or nursery facilities

– 050 Evaluate Greenhouse and/or nursery systems

Congratulations!

The STEM Engineering firm has recently expanded their operation. They have hired your team to represent their

Ag Engineering portions of their company.

Your first job is to work with the Montgomery County Public Schools to design new, state-of-the-art greenhouses for their agriculture programs. In order to complete this job, you will

need to master several tasks first.

Your first task is to gather some information about basic types of greenhouses. Read through the Power Point carefully in order to complete this task.

The basic function of a greenhouse is to provide a

protective environment for crop production.

• ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED INCLUDE:

– TEMPERATURE– LIGHT– WATER– HUMIDITY– PLANT PEST

Types of Greenhouses

Even Span Detached Greenhouse

• Most common style for single houses.

Even Span Detached Greenhouse

• Several houses may be attached together to

form one large structure

Even Span Houses

Even Span greenhouses have clear spans with truss supports,

rather than supporting columns.

Lean-to

• Built against other greenhouses or buildings.

• Are small structures.• Often used for bulb forcing

or seed starting.

Quonset Greenhouses

• Made with curved roof bars

• Inexpensive• Covered with sheet film

plastic or fiberglass panels

Gothic Arch Greenhouses

• Not widely used

• Made from laminated wooden trusses.

• Greater span is achieved than with standard wood trusses.

• Used for spring flowering annuals.

Curvilinear and Curved Eave.

• Very Expensive• Used in parks and

botanical gardens.

Lath Houses

• Made from wood or wood with a metal frame.

• Used to provide shade to plants.

Advantages of Detached Greenhouses

• Easier to program and maintain temperature.

• Easier to ventilate• Light enters a detached

greenhouse more uniformly.

• Easier to care for and maintain than connected houses.

Disadvantages of Single Unit Greenhouses

• Large Single unit greenhouses have high initial cost.

• Requires more land area.• Greater loss of heat, do to

increases height of a single unit greenhouse.

Advantages of Connected Greenhouses

• Require less land area than detached greenhouses.

• Fewer construction materials required.• Less heat required.

Disadvantages of Connected Greenhouses

• Snow cannot be easily removed.• There is a smaller volume of air above

crops in connected greenhouses.• Same amount of Roof area required.

The covering of greenhouse is known as the cladding or the skin.

• Two types of glazing materials:

1. glass

2. plastic

Glass

Plastic

COLDFRAME• An outdoor, unheated growing structure covered

with a transparent glazing material– Used to “harden” plants while protecting from

frost– Heat source: The sun

LATH HOUSE

Now that you have read through the presentation…

Follow the link to answer a few questions about the information.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGFYVlNyeXl5RERBaDZmTWstaF9GRlE6MQ

Yes, you may “TOGGLE” back and forth between the questions and the presentation. When you are finished,

please submit your findings and continue with this slideshow.

Now that you have completed some research…

You will be working closely with an architectural firm to complete this task, however, the person that you are working with has never worked with greenhouses before.

Use either Powerpoint or Smart Notebook Software to create an activity that would help the architect learn about the different styles of greenhouses.

Please return here when complete in order to move to the next task.

GREENHOUSE INVESTIGATION

What does your client desire?

• Now that you are familiar with the components of a greenhouse AND other structures, begin working on the following:

MCPS wants a state-of the-art greenhouse with the following specifications:

– A school greenhouse (Minimum dimensions: 20’ x 40’, Maximum: 30’ x 60’)

– Wide aisles to allow students to easily move around

• Remember that up to 20 students may be in here at any one time

– Tables that allow for easy clean up and drainage of water

– A non-slick floor material to prevent accidents

– A sink

– There will be awards for the most creative greenhouse that meets these specifications AND for the greenhouse that is the most “green” (environmentally friendly AND energy conservative)

Design and Build Your Own Greenhouse

• You are to DESIGN and BUILD a greenhouse to fit the needs and desires of MCPS.

• The greenhouse must include a frame, coverings and a simulated floor covering. You must also include:

– Mock tables

– Heating and cooling elements

– Irrigation system

• The greenhouse should be built on a model scale. You will determine the scale, for example:

• 1 Foot = ½ inch

• Supplies that may be used include popsicle sticks, saran wrap, etc. Use your imagination.

Following the Design & Build...

You will now present your model to the MCPS School Board. You will have no more than 5 minutes to sell your idea. Make

sure that you explain how your greenhouse will meet their needs.

You will also need to explain the scale of the model

during your presentation.

Project Sequence:Day #1: Project overview

Group brainstorming: What do plants need?Types of Greenhouses

Day #2: Intro to “Google Sketch Up” Students watched videos and started with the basics of how to use the software.

Day #3: Google “SketchUp” with more specific directions…. * Make a “house” with a roof, doors, etc… * Change the materials

Day #4: Components of a greenhouse activity * Students will analyze what equipment/structures are important and

necessary in a greenhouse

* They will also identify necessary items vs. luxury items (i.e. watering system)