You will not be losing much from a blocked north face all year, so that is not such a big problem. Wind protection is a plus, such as in your case.

How far away is the southern workshop from the proposed GH site? and how tall is the workshop?
It might not be a problem in summer when the sun is higher and GH will be getting a lot of sun through the roof.
However, winter might be a challenge when the sun is lower. Depending on the distance and height of the workshop, it could be blocking most of the direct light.

Again, it really depends on whether the plants you intend to keep in the GH require all that light and heat in the winter.
Worst case scenario, you will need to add supplemental lights and heating during the winter time - BUT you get to enjoy the GH at the exact spot where you want it.

I would sit it with the ends facing east and west the long side facing to the south.
Sounds like it will be ok next to the house. I have a similar situation with my GH and it works just fine.

I personally would always go for the sunniest location.

With a 9x12 GH in Missouri, I don't think the E-W or N-S orientation makes a huge difference...I would (and did) go for the more aesthetically pleasing orientation.

As for which spot, I agree with wetfeet, it depends upon how high the workshop is and upon how likely you are to want to extend your growing season late into fall and into winter. When you say "shade the lower section," do you mean in the winter or all the time?

Where are you in Missouri?

You know, we all started out by starting seeds, then before you know it, you're collecting bromeliads or trying to grow lychees. It is an illness. ;-)

I'm in KC...I'm well aware of the illness that is befalling me! I started out with three raised beds in the backyard and now have 9 as well as a large pumpkin patch with two AG plants going crazy. 85 tomato and 64 pepper plants, zukes, cukes, okra beans, and a plethora of other stuff keeps me out of the seedy (pun intended) pool halls in the summer.

I think we're going to go with the E-W orientation and definitely want to keep the GH where we can see it every day out of our dining room windows.

I did some ciphering last night and I think that he sun should hit the roof panels most all of the day in the winter. The side panels may only get about 1/4 of them hit with sunshine i the winter though. In summer...they should get over 3/4 full sun.

As for my uses of the GH...I'd like to be able to bring in some of my tomatoes I have in containers and try to keep them producing until Nov. or Dec. The GH will be mostly vacant in Dec and Jan though. In late Feb, I will be moving my seedlings from my indoor grow table to the GH to get more light and hardened off. Besides my big garden I keep most of my family and many friends away from the garden centers and put heirloom tomato plants in their hands. With this building I may need a lot more friends! ;-)

If you build it, they will come...LOL

James:

By all means; do site your GH to please your convenience and asthetic senses as well as to compliment, rather than conflict with the appearance of your home.

However, your greatest challenge won't be in heating it, but keeping it cool in the middle of a Missouri summer.

See assorted threads on shade cloths, ceiling fans, HAFs, misting and a myriad of other issues relating to heating & cooling GH's that have created many friendly debates here; all of them worthwhile.

If you have the financial wherewithall to spend more than the initial cost of your GH, especially for water, drains, gas and/or electricity, all of which are important parts of a working GH, curb your enthusiasm for the present. Leave the GH in the crates for a while longer, and do your foundation homework before you lay out the first timber.

If you want to be able to use your GH most of the year, you must start with a foundation that will facilitate that desire.

You can add much to a GH after it's up, but the foundation is the one part of it you really don't want to need to retrofit, after-the-fact.

YOU SAID: "You know, we all started out by starting seeds, then before you know it, you're collecting bromeliads or trying to grow lychees. It is an illness. ;-)"

It is. It's an addiction. We need a 12 step program like AA or NA. Even then I don't think we'd go into a lasting remission.

It is nice to look out at the GH from a frequently used room in the house. I have occasionally seen things that needed attention just by walking through the kitchen and looking out toward the GH.

Birdwidow and I will disagree about some minor details in regard to the foundation, but we completely agree on the need to get the foundation right from the beginning.

SB

I will be using the existing foundation of a concrete patio. I'll run electricity to it from the adjacent garage and will have a water hose within 10 feet for when I need it. I doubt I'll use it much in the summer...all the plants will be in the ground or pots around the yard. The main prep work I have to do is to remove a tree that overhangs the patio...last thing I need is a tree crashing through this thing! Thanks for all the advice...if you need a tomato plant or two next spring, you know where to go! ;-)