Name: Jim Northeast Pennsylvania (Zone 6b) Gardens feed my body, soul & spirit
Shonick said: I read the whole article and I understand it. In order to achieve any of that design. I have to dig more than 5 feet to achieve that.
You keep saying you would have to dig down 5 feet. I don't know where you are getting that with the Swedish Skirt method. For the SS, you only need to dig down a few inches.
Quote from the article: "Also known as the "Swedish Skirt", this method can be used with a slab on grade, with piers if you auger the holes, or if you decide to use no foundation at all. The idea with the Swedish Skirt is that you lay rigid foam board horizontal starting at the base of the greenhouse, and extending 4' away from the greenhouse. This insulation needs to slope gently away from the greenhouse for drainage, which will require some minimal digging or raking. It's also best to cover this foam with gravel or soil, as direct UV rays will damage the insulation. Like the vertical insulation, this system also prevents frozen soil from creeping under the greenhouse, while keeping the warm soil where you want it, directly under your greenhouse."
Here's a short video of a guy who used the SS around his house:
There are others on youtube including a two-parter of the SS being used around a very large greenhouse.
