If you’re looking for a sustainable way to stockpile fresh fruits and vegetables without spending tons of cash, then consider building a DIY greenhouse.
Don’t get me wrong; I think every prepper should have canned and freeze-dried food supplies available for short-term emergencies.
But you’ll need a reliable food source to turn to when these supplies run low, and having access to a garden will be invaluable after SHTF.
In the past, I’ve talked about using hydroponics to create an indoor survival garden.
Today, I’ll show you how to build a cost-effective, DIY greenhouse that can supply you and your family with food year after year.
Build a DIY Greenhouse for Dirt Cheap
Building a greenhouse gives you more control over the environment your plants grow in no matter what the weather is outside.
Most greenhouses are created to keep heat in, but you can also add a cooling mechanism to keep the temperature inside low.
This added environmental control means you can extend your growing season, grow crops that may not usually thrive in your area, and keep harmful pests away from your plants.
One of the biggest downsides to building a greenhouse has been the expense that comes with it.
Luckily, there are plenty of cheap DIY greenhouse plans available that walk you through the building process step-by-step.
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The $50 Greenhouse
The author of this tutorial was able to build a 165-square ft. hoop house greenhouse for only $50.
Thrifty preppers can probably replicate this project for the same costs, but if you were to buy brand new materials, the price would come to around $200.
Still, that’s a small price to pay to reap all the benefits that come from having your own greenhouse.
If you’re still skeptical, here’s a video showing how one man built the same type of greenhouse on his own for about a hundred bucks.
Barn Style Greenhouse
This barn style DIY greenhouse would be a bit more expensive than the previous one, but still relatively cheap.
The trade-off is that this greenhouse is sturdier that the hoop house style, which may make it a more cost-effective option depending on where you live.
300 Square Foot Greenhouse
If you have enough space and want to make sure your DIY greenhouse can produce enough food for the entire family, then this tutorial for building a 300-square ft. hoop house is perfect for you.
Not only does this greenhouse design offer tons of growing space, but it still only cost $500 to build.
Plus, this tutorial is packed with tips on selecting the best spot to build your greenhouse and how to prep the soil.
Bonus: How to Make Homemade Compost Fast
Anything you can do to improve the quality of the soil in your garden will reap benefits down the line.
Making and using compost is great because it can help feed the plants in your garden using material that would otherwise be thrown away.
Plus, when applied as mulch, compost can help to keep your garden free of weeds while heating up your DIY greenhouse without electricity.
You see, compost piles produce heat as the organic material within them breaks down. As a result, weeds have a hard time growing through a 1 or 2-inch layer of compost.
Below is a video on making high-quality compost without attracting a lot of insects and pests to your property.
In addition to a greenhouse, you’re also going to need some seeds to get your survival garden started.