Using just a few tools and some older glass cabinet doors you can make a remarkable windowsill greenhouse. I stumbled onto this idea quite by accident one day exploring a way to make a unique window treatment that no one else had. In the kitchen I had a medium sized window, about 24×36.

It wasn’t really a large size and sat awkwardly above a counter so traditional window treatments hung down onto the counter where they got into anything that the counter held. Since I used it for food preparation, I wanted something that was pretty as well as functional but also offered me some privacy, as it faced a neighbor’s home.

Here is what I did to accomplish the window sill greenhouse. You Need:
A window of course, with a deep sill–even if it’s less than 4 inches you’re still fine for space so long as you use smaller pots
A cabinet door that is the approximate size of your window; Plexiglas or glass front. The one I found at a yard sale for fewer than five dollars was etched glass.
Set of two hinges
Herbs or herb seeds planted in small pots
3 lengths of board cut to fit the width and depth of your window–it should be at least quarter inch thick.
4 L shaped Brackets for each shelf-these are what you use to hold your shelves.

The idea is simple and I accomplished it in just a couple hours using a hand saw and some sand paper.

Make sure that the width of the board you are using is thin enough to allow your cabinet door to close over the window. Cut the board to make three shelves that are the approximate size of your window, minus about half inch. (This allows for the bracket thickness)

Secure two of the L shaped brackets to each side of your shelf boards. (The underside works best to hide the hardware
Screw them into the window casing securely.
Secure the hinges to your cabinet door.
Secure the door in place. If it’s a bit larger than your window it’s going to work well, so long as it isn’t smaller.

Make sure that all your screws are tight and then put your herb pots in place. The heat that stays in the windowsill, as well as the small bit of moisture that remains is going to keep your herbs growing very well. If the moisture begins to stack up inside the greenhouse or the weather is very hot, open the door just a bit to permit the heat and water to escape. Even herbs that are normally hard to grow did very well in my small greenhouse.