While our little temporary greenhouse was great for its purpose, it wasn't much of a barrier to large threats, such as a big dog, or heavy winds or weather. It wasn't anchored at all, and could be lifted up and moved with two hands. And in the end it was temporary, just as planned.

To do box turtles, and tortoises, properly, and in the quantities I was planning on, I needed to design something larger, more permanent, and most importantly, expandable, so I could add on as needed.

It didn't require heating or cooling, but did need to be screened to keep the pets in and the threats out. And it needed to have overhead cover during the summer to provide some shade during the oppressive heat of July and August.

It wouldn't need electrical connections, but it would need water for the planned misting system. Most of all, it had to be stable in the weather, and with winds often gusting over 50 mph and higher, it would need to be secured and anchored well. And it had to be designed so a single person could build and install it.

Some things I tried worked well, others not so much. Some design elements didn't scale, and attempting to use existing materials sometimes burdened the design, leading to somewhat catastrophic failures.

Along the way I found better ways to do things, and better materials and tools to use. But first, I needed to start with a single small greenhouse for the first groups of box turtles. Stay tuned for part 2!