Check these posts on this thread:
Post 8178:
Solar Greenhouse Resources - Horticulture Resource List
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/solar-gh.html
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Agriculture - Non-Biomass Energy Production
Active and passive solar, and alternative energy greenhouses, solar-powered pumps, and solar-powered fences for grazing systems.
http://www.sare.org/coreinfo/energy_subA.htm
BUILD AN INTEGRAL PASSIVE SOLAR WATER HEATER
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1984-01-01/Build-an-Integral-Passive-Solar-Water-Heater.aspx
Post 8317:
Yes, make it a solar greenhouse and attach it to the house.
If it must be free standing then the minimum size is about 9x12 foot with a tall/peaked roof, or the greenhouse will heat and cool too quickly.
Sunlight and water and fun, it is easier to grow in a greenhouse, except for some plants, such as squash and cukes the will require your help to fertilize the flowers, so they will form fruit.
Many of the others will self pollinate themselves, if you give them a shake or two each day.
For solar they say a south exposure is best, but any will work, with west being the hottest.
(continues)
Post 588:
The food and heat producing Solar Greenhouse
Design construction operation
By:
Rick Fisher and Bill Yanda
ISBN 0-912528-12-5
1976 & 1977
Published by:
John Muir Publications
PO Box 613
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
And it is still for sale, and resale: [you may be able to read it on line.]
http://www.google.com/search?q=The+food+and+heat+producing+Solar+Greenhouse+Design+construction+operation&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
I’m not sure if Granny will be back on tonight, so if she comes on she may provide more info. Welcome to the thread and thanks for reading. Feel free to provide any recipes or other tips you may have!
http://shannonclark.wordpress.com/2008/12/27/why-i-buy-local-and-organic/
Why I buy local (and organic)
Posted by shannonclark on December 27, 2008
I buy almost everything locally, mostly from small, often independent (or at least local small scale chains) stores. Most of the food I eat and cook for my friends comes from local shops and for the most part local farmers markets. For the most part I buy organic produce, eggs, milk and other products including meat when I can. The rest of my meat is at a minimum free range and cage free (though as I noted in earlier blog posts I was against the recently passed Proposition 2 which mandates larger cages/cage free raising of poultry in CA)...
Continues