DIY: How to design your own Greenhouse

Types of greenhouses;choosing a site; installation

First decide on the type and size of structure you want and how much money you're willing to spend.  To provide for expansion, plan for more space than you anticipate using at first.  Check with your local building department about permits and other regulations.

Ready-to-assemble kits come in a variety of styles from window greenhouses to fully equipped, freestanding structures.  Examine as many dealers' catalogs as possible.  If you want a nonstandard size or if your property has special problems, you may need a custom built greenhouse.  Or consider building it yourself.

Types and materials

There are two basic types of greenhouses:

• Lean-to, erected on a balcony or against a house wall.  This type is usually cheaper and can be hooked into existing house utilities and is less exposed to wind and weather.  It can also provide additional house hold heat and living space. 
• Freestanding, which gives you more growing space and is more easily located to take advantage of sunlight.

The most common type of materials:

• Aluminum is maintenance free.
• Wood is cheaper and retains heat better but requires maintenance.  
• The most popular glazing material is still glass.  
• Sheet plastics are cheaper, but short-lived.  
• If you don't mind a translucent surface, consider rigid fiberglass.  It is expensive but very strong and weather resistant and retains heat better than glass.
• A bed of gravel over an earthen floor provides good drainage; add slate, tile, or wood-slat walkways.

Choosing your site:

• A greenhouse should get as much light as possible, especially in the winter.  
• Attach a lean-to to a south-facing wall; orient the long axis of a freestanding greenhouse east to west.  
• Pick a site for the greenhouse that is protected from winter winds by trees, a fence, or buildings.  A nearby deciduous tree will provide shade in the summer; avoid obstructions that can block light in winter.  
• The site should be level, well drained, and convenient to a source of water and electricity.  Run utility lines to the site before putting up the greenhouse.

Installation
Kit manufacturers usually provide foundation plans and installation instructions.  In a mild climate, a small, lightweight greenhouse can rest on a sill secured to the ground with tie rods.  In colder climates, foundation footings of poured concrete must extend below the frost line.

Greenhouse furnishings
A freestanding greenhouse requires its own thermostat-controlled heating system; ask the company that sold you the greenhouse to recommend a unit of the right size and type.  If your home has unused heating capacity and if you can set up a separate heating zone you may be able to warm an attache greenhouse by extending the home system to it.

One or more roof vents, preferably with an automatic opener, is essential for maintaining proper temperature.  Other vents may be located on the side walls.  In some automatic systems, a thermostat controlled fan circulates air.  in case there is a  power or equipment failure, install a battery powered alarm to warn of sudden changes in greenhouse temperature. 

Roller blinds on the outside of the roof are an efficient way to shade a greenhouse.  Rain resistant shading paint applied o the outside of the glass is also effective and cheap; wipe it off when it is no longer needed.

Gardman R687 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse

Miracle-Gro 0149300-365 Potting Mix - 8 Quart

Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil 12Qt.

How to control your appetite

Sensible goals for diet control

1. Avoid crash or fad diets.  A sensible goal for a diet is a weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week.  The faster you lose it.  The faster you are going to gain it right back.
2. Eat foods low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates(fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes).  Animal fat readily turns to human fat.  
3. Don't skip meals; eat five or six small meals a day instead of three big ones--you won't feel as hungry, and your body will use more energy in digestion.
4. Eat slowly, savoring each bite.  It takes about 20 minutes for the feeling of fullness to register; wait that long before eating more.  A good rule of thumb is to drink an 8 oz bottled water before the meal and you will have a feeling of fullness anyway.
5. When you feel hungry between meals, have a sugarless cup of tea; caffeine inhibits the appetite.
6. Exercise regularly; not only does it burn up calories, but it can also make you feel temporarily less hungry.  
7. After about 3 weeks of dieting, you may stop losing weight altogether until your body accepts its new norm.  The trick is to get past this 3 week mark without gaining back what you have lost.  When you finally reach your ideal weight, maintain it for at least 3 weeks to establish a new norm.

The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer Sixteen Weeks to Achieve Your Goal of a Healthy Lifestyle 2008 publication.

The EatingWell Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook: 150 Delicious Recipes for Simple, Everyday Suppers in 45 Minutes or Less

The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes Adapted from NBC's Hit Show

Looking Trim Weight Loss Diet Pills

The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Stronger, More Muscular YOU!
The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Sexier, Healthier YOU!

What to use in place of an Allen Wrench

Lacking an Allen Wrench?

You can still tighten or remove an Allen-head screw; just try different sizes of plain screwdrivers until you find one that fits the opening.

Or, if the Allen screw protrudes above the work surface, use a hacksaw to cut a slot in the top; then use a standard screwdriver to tighten or remove it.  Or grip the head of the screw with a pair of locking-grip pliers to loosen.
Stanley 90-391 SAE and Metric Folding Hex Key
 Bondhus 20199 Balldriver L-Wrench Double Pack, 10999 (1.5-10mm) and 10937 (0.050-3/8-Inch)
30 Pc Allen Wrench Set- SAE/ MM
Stanley 85-753 22 Piece Long Arm SAE & Metric Hex Key Set

Abdominal flab: Simple Ab exercises that work wonders

How to lose that ab flab.

Simple common sense exercises that really work:

1. Proper posture can do wonders for the way your stomach looks.  Stand up straight, put your shoulders back, and tuck in your abdomen and buttocks.
2. Breathe correctly:  deeply, from the diaphragm.
3. Pull in your ab muscles and hold for several seconds.  Make the exercise part of your routine:  do it while you are brushing your teeth or sitting at your desk, or whenever you are stuck in traffic or waiting for a bus or train.
4. If you do not have a bicycle, try this bicycle exercise.  Lie on your back.  Put your hands underneath your buttocks for support and bend both knees up to your chest.  Extend one leg straight up towards the ceiling.  As you bend it in a pedaling motion extend the other.  Repeat 10-20 times.  
5. Do a set of bent-leg curl-ups as shown below.  Lie on your back.  Inhale, and then as you exhale, slowly curl your head and shoulders upward and slide your hands up your thighs toward your knees.  Pause.  Inhale, and while exhaling slowly curl down to a resting position.  Repeat 10 times.
6. While doing any exercise, contract your ab muscles to keep yourself in alignment.  During an abdomen-toning supine exercise, keep the small of your back on the floor; otherwise your hip flexors will take on the Ab's work.
7. Wanna have some fun exercising those Ab's?  Take belly dancing lessons!  You will have a blast and have those Ab's in shape in no time!

Amira's Bellydance 101 Belly Dancing Basics For Beginners
Amira's Belly Dance & Yoga For Pregnancy Prenatal Exercise
Calvin Klein Performance Women's Crop Legging With Back Shirring, Black, Medium