Greenhouse Demolition

We bought an old greenhouse from a farm in town. Over the last week we’ve taken it all apart and brought all the hoops back here. Having the project site close by was convenient, allowing us to peck away at the job as we found time in breaks in the weather and between other tasks.

Zia split the arches at the peak from the work platform, Allie removed the ground post hardware, and I pulled each hoop out of the way. Working together things moved quickly. Plenty of penetrating spray was required on threads and pipe sockets.

The greenhouse was built in 1989, and although it has been uncovered for more than ten years most of the galvanizing is in decent condition. Greenhouse frames that I’ve found from the 1980s tended to be built from stouter steel pipes. Most newer ones are engineered right to the limit with thin walled pipes. I’m sure the newer ones are fine, but I like the confidence I get from things being a little overbuilt. Belt and suspenders always.

We were able to pull the ground posts two at a time by rigging a long chain with grab hooks from both ends of the tractor forks.

We disassembled all the hoops and things look pretty good. A few of the purlin pipes are bent but all of the hoops are properly curved with no kinks or twists. Aside from some obstinate rusty bolts the process was straightforward. The only real challenge was dealing with all the saplings and wild grapevines that had grown up inside the old framework.

Wild grapes love greenhouse frames.

Now that we have the hoops here, we’re waiting on some highway guardrail material to be delivered later this week, and then we’ll begin building some new portable shelters for chickens.

2 thoughts on “Greenhouse Demolition”

  1. I love how you recycle ! Amazing , creative and admirable. I can’t wait to return to NY to be able to order from you again.

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