I actually built the cold frame this 3D rendering represents. I acquired some large blocks of insulation foam from our lumber yard and some sheets of glass from a home recycling yard. This unit was put together in less than an hour, cutting the foam with a handsaw and using glue to hold it all together. It was a great early in the season solution for starting lettuce and other cold tolerant plants. Utilizing the research explained on other pages of this solar gardening section of this web site, I covered it at night with a wool blanket and I removed the top glass pane in the warm afternoons. A friend of mine built a whole row of these along his fence in his backyard. They are cheap and work perfectly.

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Here's one of my many 3D renderings of a more advanced version, bigger and big enough to get into. It is here to stimulate your imagination. I have used recycled shower doors for the glazing, painted styrofoam for the walls (must be sealed) and railroad ties for the foundation. Glue will hold it together. Get fancy later.

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At the other end of the spectrum is this geodesic dome. Including city permits, land preparation and plumbing, this was a $26,000 investment. Still, at this elevation it remains overglazed. Over heating is a problem. It has a large water tank with fish inside to serve as a ballast for heat exchange.

Here is an actual photo from inside one of these domes, provided by the manufacturer. It is a good representation of the inside of this dome here in Flagstaff, I've been inside.

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This is a very successful attached greenhouse.

Yet another attached solution, with so many benefits. Humidity for the home in this dry high altitude, shared gardening environment, etc. Also, ambient free home heat.

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I captured these from the internet and I've added them because they represent the perfect glazing geometry for high altitude passive greenhouse design. The glass proportions are correct! Insulated walls, etcetera, make these shed designs perfect.

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This gardener's best friend, while he was alive, is seen here outside another very successful experiment in creating a controlled environment. Yes, I'm growing corn and other vegetable along the side of my house. Why screened in? It was a year of the great grasshopper plague. Baby plants would disappear in hours without a screen.

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Our local Leadership Academy has revitalized the abandoned greenhouse used by the Museum of Arizona many years ago to experiment with solar passive gardening in northern Arizona. It has sat unused for several years. These photos attest to its new life.

New glazing and an inspiring mural bring new life and purpose to this growing space.

Here, on the north side of the greenhouse, you can see there summer solution for collecting rain water. This educational project is filled with promise.

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Here is a solar attachment to an office building. I've included this photo for several reasons. First, it architecturally an excellent example. It must also be noted that immediately blinds were added to probably cool the room. Solar gain is huge at this altitude. Even this perfect example is overglazed for growing purposes. See photos above.

The person who created the business Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed once used this very pragmatic grow frame to start small plants. It is based exactly on the scientific principles illustrated within this report.

This is an excellent TEMPORARY idea. The soil pile provides insulation but it will contribute to wood rot in the first season.