Yes, I could frame it to use the glass on any of the sides, but obviously East or South would be preferable. The site where I'm planning to put it is south facing, but the south side will be shaded part way down (the bottom part of the wall) so my thought was to use glass on the East side and a few of the poly panels across the top of the south side to get the most light. It looks like it might be less expensive to incorporate a lot of roof ventilation (and maybe even use the solar openers, though not sure how much weight they can lift? The panels I have are fairly heavy) rather than buying a set of louvers and all that. I'll definitely need a fan of some sort just for air circulation. The material I was looking at is described as 7.5 oz/sq.yard woven clear polyethylene fabric with UV inhibitors, 19mil. Looks like pretty solid stuff, but what I'm concerned about is not being able to seal everything tightly enough to keep humidity high enough to make the orchids happy. One option is to frame it up, get the roof on and glass wherever it would go best, then cover the rest with a relatively temporary (and inexpensive) thing like the 6mil film. In a year or three, if I have te money to redo the sides with poly panels I could, or I could just replace the film. One last question about the roof. If I go with a single sloped roof rather than a pitched roof, is there any consensus about how steep to make the slope (in terms of reflectivity, best absorbtion of light)? I was thinking about a 6 foot front wall and an 8 foot back wall, making the slope pretty gradual.

aeiger, Winter sowing as per this forum is done outside and not in a greenhouse. In the greenhouse, even though it's not heated, you'll meet with different variables (more heat than outside, no precipitation), and if the squirrels are everywhere outside, then they'll most certainly find their way into the greenhouse. I have a little army of squirrels and the way I deal with them is to feed them in a particular spot. This spot happens to be about 3 feet away from my containers at this time of year. Every morning I go and fill their bowl with their 'cereal' and that's it. They have never bothered my gardens either. So get DH to feed them in a particular spot and make sure they have food all the time. That should solve the squirrel problem and then you'll be able to place your containers where you want.

... ONLY a half acre? MY "greenhouse" is a rickety four shelved rack with a plastic canopy and wheels :P only a half acre, hahaha. if that's "only," how big CAN they be made? I guess I've never thought about it :O but seriously, damn, the possibilities! I'd kill for a nice greenhouse, and the money to heat it :P but I'd have to be able to heat my real house before that, lol. so glad it's starting to not be so awful out - I get excited and go outside when it's 50 and sit in the sun to warm up when I'm cold. enjoy it, and post lots of pictures! :D Ria

Good for you Kay.Every one should have a big shed to store things in.Mine rotted down a few years ago, and I have a metal one thats very old,and cant even get the door open on it no more, so my things are stored on a back porch turned utility room.Its all inclosed with windows down one side.Its kind of a (Catch all).I just put my 2 Angels Trumpets plants back there, the day before we got them 28 degree nights.course, after I cut them back to about 2 ft tall. Jean