Hmmmm.... that sounds like a dreamy situation. I don't know if it would work or someone would have probably written a book on it by now... OR, if it does work, you could write a book and get rich and retire!

It really does sound feasible, though. I was fairly excited when I read the post, but after a little more consideration, I think that the heat is usually in the middle and only for short spells unless you keep turning it over, right? But, I'm certainly no expert! I'd be excited to hear if others think it'll do well. I had a passing thought when I read the post originally and was giggling thinking of "engineered garden", but it wasn't EG, it was our sweet Carolyn!

Blessings,
Angela

I think I read something about the French using horse manure under their garden beds for winter growing. I'm sure there's a name for it, but it escapes me at the moment. Getting too late to think I guess : )

Carolyn - The concept actually has a small amount of validity to it. People used to use fresh HM (not HS, dangit, that granny!)to put into a compartment in the walls of their GH to utilize as a source of heat. John can tell ya about it...he's the HM/GH man!

EG

Do as you suggest, mixing some fresh manure into your composting material. Then use row covers along each row. A time honored method which I encourage you to try.

ya, i read something about that in either mother earth OR organic gardening. it doesn't only heat up once in a while, its all the time, as long as its wet from what i understand, am i right john? ( i know he'll pipe in soon :') )
ya know eg, that gave me an awesome idea!! i still have some manuer left over, so i'll use that instead, and ask ottis if i can have some more, maybe i can get some chicken poo, and put it in there and keep it moist, its full of nitrogen!! that should keep my gh nice and warm. with the bricks on top, they'll keep the gh warm in the night theoretically right? ok, now how to keep that heat in. is it too crazy to put that plastic around the gh? its 6ml. any thought? ~Medo

Medo - yeah, that should work ok....anything that you can add to the perimeter of the GH (that's not finished yet!)will help retain heat. Hee Hee. I think you and hubs should fly me up there, and I can finish that thing in probably 2 days. Ha! I'm like the tasmanian devil with tools....lol

EG

You are going too far back in time to remember any details. But d$@& it you got me thinking about it and I have the ideal spot for a 2Â X 2Â X 8Â bin. Two of my compost bins are 4 wks old and still setting at 150 deg f. It would be an excellent source of btus, co2 and humidity. Also great compost in the spring. I will have to sleep on this one. If I do it, it will not be until mid Dec. Hmmmmm it would be a great post in my journal. One thing I can tell you for certain is, EG will be in a GH before long.

John

Here is a link that might be useful: Johns Journal

he'll have ta be!! LOL mine isn't up yet!! and i know he just has to get one up just to show me just how long it actually takes to put them up!! **wink** Hee Hee!! LOL ~Medo

Hum...hum....hum...I'm not listening....I'll just think about my fishing lures until the noise stops....Hee Hee

Medo - I built something today! Not a GH though....I built a little sfg planter box, and will post a very detailed blog about it this week, with tons of pictures....you won't want to miss it!

John - there won't be a GH this year...sorry! I can't wait to see you blog about the GH/HM thing.

EG

I just lost interest in heating my GH with HM compost. According to Alchemy Institute, it would take 12.5 tons of compost to heat it. That would be too many irons in the fire again.

John

http://vsg.cape.com/~nature/greencenter/pdf/compost.pdf

Here is a link that might be useful: Johns Journal

Thanks all for your great ideas! John, that was exactly my fear: too much compost for too little space. I'm still going to make an attempt, though. The data may be helpful at a later date in any case.

12 tons!!! geeze how big is your green house??? mine is a 12x10 and this winter (thats assuming i get it together) i'm going to put plastic across the top part to block off the arch piece. since that's where all of my heat would be going (im assuming) since it does at my mom's house. LOL and i want it to stay lower. LOL ~Medo