Today, we received these lovely photos from Connie of the Nikolski IRA Council in Nikolski, Alaska.
This 26′ Dome plays host to all sorts of plants and veggies. As you can see in the photos they are growing several kinds of lettuce, looks like spinach, tomatoes parsley, cilantro, etc.
“I’m so happy to finally be able to show you some photos of the greenhouse in Nikolski. Although constructed in 2008, it was not fully utilized until this past summer. But, as you can see, it is doing very well. AND, it has withstood winds of up to 120 mph quite well.
Thanks for your wonderful product,
Connie”
But wait… Does anyone know what the pretty little orange flowers are? Please comment below.
I spent a bit of time this weekend in my 26′ Dome getting it tidied and ready for a fall planting. We just had 3 weeks of monsoon rains and our temperatures have moderated somewhat, so I am hoping to get my fall crops planted this week . In so doing I am hoping to be in full production (or close to it) as I start to pull my summer crops out. We shall see, usually I am about 3 weeks off on my timing so this year I am following my sense of the weather to get it going. I have most of my fall/winter seeds bought already. I learned last year to buy fall seeds throughout the summer when I have a chance to find them. Pagosa Springs like many smaller towns doesn’t have a year round nursery and when our local seed supplies are out in spring that’s all the seeds that will be available for the year. I will go in with a friend on purchasing some more greens seeds, the only thing I am short of. This fall I am really concentrating on the veggies that we eat the most often. I have taken out my enormous section of lemon balm and pineapple sage as I really only use this occasionally.I put them into pots to live next to the tank over the winter and brought some to town to transplant into my outdoor raised garden beds. They will either have enough time to get established and winter over or not. My suspicion is that come spring they will start flourishing in the outdoor beds. We are currently in the final stages of a huge landscaping project in our front yard and next spring I will be taking many of the herbs and plants that are wintering over in the raised garden beds and plant them among the landscaping plants that are already in place. In that scenario I will be happy to have them to go crazy in size, but not so much in the Dome. My outdoor raised garden beds are mostly for flowers, asparagus and rhubarb at this point in time. Things that would take over the entire dome if I let them.
My original grape vine is now happily thriving, and I continue to string more line for it to climb on. I hope I don’t run out of twine, before we are able to get our inner beds built and the trellising installed, (but that’s a bad weather inside project and our stone courtyard at the house is still our priority). The kiwi plant has survived it’s transplant and has new leaves, it had us worried for a while as it seemed to suffer the most with our inconsistent watering earlier in the season. I harvested another group of rosemary and thyme, stocking up for Christmas presents. Lots of lemon balm and pineapple sage for drying. A few amazing strawberries, soon to be added to our front yard landscaping, and some amazing plum tomatoes. I have one squash plant taking over the floor of the Growing Dome, it’s already over 8 feet long!
I recently purchased a box of apricots that a friend brought to me from the Delta, Colorado area. Part of the weekend was spent dehydrating some, making a bit of table jam (not canned) and experimenting with some apricot liqueur. It feels really lovely to be able to purchase food on a local basis and take advantage of the incredible flavors it has!
Well, that’s my update for this weekend, looking forward to a visit from Richard Miller our on site Master Gardener, who is going to help me up-level my planting plan for maximum production. My goal this next year is to almost completely eliminate any trips to the local market for produce, okay except for the rare and tropical things I can’t resist.
Growing just one food-producing plant at home like tomato, belle pepper, strawberry, lettuce, snow peas, etc can do more than just save money otherwise spent at the grocery store.
Whether you are a family of five, a one-person household, or a community of many, you can make a difference in how you live – today!
By planting even one belle pepper or tomato plant in a good-sized pot outside -or even a few herbs in your windowsill- you’ll not only save a few dollars but also enrich your body. The nutrients that come from naturally, home-grown produce (not to mention the taste!) can not be matched in vegetables and fruits purchased from a grocery store.
Utah Dome Owner shares his message in hopes of creating Heaven on Earth:
As far back as I can remember, my grandmother always said “If you want something done right – do it yourself…”
As of today, I thoroughly disagree.
The brand new 42′ Growing Dome greenhouse installedat Roaring Fork High Schoolin Carbondale, Colorado has brought me to this decision.
The project came together with such ease, we owe it to the dedicated project planners, donors, local volunteers, students, neighbors, and community members who worked together with Growing Spaces Crew to assemble the structure in May.
Lining the beds with straw before filling
Now that the growing beds have been designed and built- 16 students from Colorado University were hosted for a program through the Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute featuring a workday over at the RFHS Growing Dome. The day at the Dome included filling the gardening beds inside the Dome.
The students first lined the growing beds with straw, which will eventually break down adding additional nutrients to the soil, and then bring the soil in to fill the beds to about 2 inches from the top.
After punching in this morning I went out to the 33′ Dome here at Growing Spaces to check on the lettuce seedlings surrounding the new strawberry transplants. Once again it appears we have planted way too densely again, not hard to do with fine little lettuce seeds. So I spent about 10 minutes plucking out some of the seedlings to give all the others plenty of room to grow. It’s such a leap of faith every time I plant to really trust the planting instructions of how far apart to plant, but in reality I would waste a lot less seed if I did. The seedlings won’t be wasted though, as they are sitting in a bowl of water happily floating until I take them home for lunch to be added to my sandwich today. Reminder to self each seed has the potential to be a whole plant all by itself.
For us Wednesday is Dome Day. Now that we’re into full summer swing, the Dome likes just a little more attention than winter. This means that instead of going to the Dome once a week, or even sometimes not for 3-5 weeks at a time, we’re heading out to the property to check in on the Dome, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For those of you who don’t know me, I work at Growing Spaces and we own a 26′ Premium Growing Dome (the perfect size in my opinion) on our property outside of town, we have since purchased a home in town and keep the Dome growing year round up on our property (18 miles away).
This summer we have been a bit challenged by a water pump timer that seems to keep eating batteries up every few days. CJ says it’s a small leak shorting out the battery. But the point to this is that our dome has been getting watered really inconsistently for weeks now and continues to grow in spite of that! The tomatoes looked kind of spindly and not all that happy, so chatting with Richard here at work, he encouraged me to spend some time with them and supporting them (literally). So last week I rounded up some old towels and chain to hang from the struts to tie the Tomato plants to. Tomato cages have evolved into supporting big flowering plants, as my tomato plants always outgrow them in no time at all, and then they fall over and break. So this year, I’m copying Bonnie’s idea of suspending chains from the struts above and tying them on with strips of old towels, (so I don’t bruise or cut the stems). It looks like all my tomato plants are wearing blue fuzzy ribbons in their hair, but after only one week of having them supported in this way, they are really on their way. The stems are much thicker and I have tons of new growth, looks like that “supporting them” idea really does pay off. We grabbed a couple of plum tomatoes and ate them still warm from the sun, man, tomatoes that are actually so intense their flavor is sweet!
Looks like my stevia plant is happily established in it’s new spot. Even though I have no idea yet how to use the stevia from the plant, I’m sure I will figure it out sooner or later. I think for this year I will just let it grow and get really established before doing any harvesting. Echinacea is in full bloom (using one of those former tomato cages to keep it sturdy). I harvested again fresh basil, sage, thyme, parsley and rosemary, grilling with fresh herbs is just the best! I am finally managing to grow more than I can use up fresh and starting to dry some for later use or to share. Right outside the Growing Dome I have some random blue flax and some coneflower growing and I’ve begun harvesting seeds everytime I go to the dome, you just have to love free seeds! I’ve started some blue flax in the 33′ Growing Dome at work and can hardly wait until it goes to seed to scatter about in the other planting beds as a little suprise to my coworkers. Udgar’s birthday present this year was some gorgeous strawberry plants from our dome transplanted into the 33′ Employee dome on site. I tucked them in on the northeast corner right near the tank. I know that in summer this is one of the coolest spots and in winter they will stay warm from the tanks radiant heat. We’ve planted some lettuce seed in among them as well, to really utilize every inch of space we can.
I’m thinking about doing small herb packets and seed packets as Christmas presents this year. (How Martha Stewart of me!) But I know it will be used and enjoyed much more than some presents I ‘ve given over the years.
The jalapeno and bell pepper plants are all blooming and some have already started setting peppers. The squash plants are now blooming and I wonder if they are getting pollinated, when I come up wednesday evenings the blooms are already closed for the day, so I’m not sure, maybe I will do a little hand pollinating just to be sure, as I love acorn and spaghetti squash and can hardly wait for it to be ready to harvest. Like many other dome owners I’m a bit behind schedule on some of my plants, but I’m not worried as I’m sure the dome will give me plenty of warmth and a long enough season for them all to come to harvest. Spring onions (I know it’s mid July) are up everywhere and it’s always a debate whether to eat them young and fresh or to let them mature, I guess I can be patient for a while longer.
Well that’s my rather long winded update on our Dome, hopefully more stories soon.
Greenhouses like the new dome behind Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale, Colorado could become a more common sight in the Roaring Fork Valley. Pitkin County is contemplating code changes to better accommodate greenhouses.
With community gardens cropping up around the Roaring Fork Valley, it may be only a matter of time before the first community greenhouse sprouts in somebody’s neighborhood.
As the “eat local” movement grows among those with a green thumb or, at least, a longing for fresh greens, so too is the interest in greenhouses. The need for a lengthened growing season certainly is not lost on anyone who has tried to grow a tomato between the last snow of spring and the first frost of fall in Aspen, or even Basalt.
But in Pitkin County, where 30 years of land-use regulation has focused on reining in development, loosening up the rules for backyard greenhouses could mean a whole new chapter in the local land-use code.
“If we really want to promote agriculture, isn’t a greenhouse in the backyard just as important as some big commercial operation? I’d say yeah,” said Cindy Houben, head of the county’s Community Development Department. Her staff is tackling the issue, which could include the need to accommodate community greenhouses that serve a neighborhood or the members of a cooperative venture.
At present, greenhouses are lumped in with barns in the county’s land-use code, and count as part of the allowed floor area for a house on lots of less than 20 acres. Properties larger than 20 acres but less than 160 acres in size are allowed a barn (or greenhouse) of up to 58 square feet per acre and it doesn’t count toward the floor area maximum. A property of more than 160 acres doesn’t face any limits on agricultural building size.
County planners have suggested allocating 120 square feet for a private greenhouse as a floor-area freebie, but a committee of citizens interested in the issue has suggested 200 square feet instead — sufficient space for a detached structure that won’t conveniently become part of the living quarters instead of functioning as a greenhouse. The committee also urged the county to regulate greenhouses separately from other agricultural buildings.
The county’s wariness when it comes to handing out extra floor area is understandable, said Michael Thompson, an architect and greenhouse designer who helped draft the committee’s recommendations. “They’re afraid people will build a greenhouse and store a Porche in it,” he said.
Thompson and Jerome Osentowski, whose Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute on Basalt Mountain is a showcase of year-round greenhouse agriculture, have teamed up in EcoSystems Design Inc., designing greenhouse environments like the new Growing Dome greenhouse that will celebrate its official opening at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale on Aug. 1. Thompson and Osentowski envision regulations that allow virtually anyone to grow their own food on some level in a backyard greenhouse, and that accommodate a large-scale commercial operation, should there be an interest.
There is interest in greenhouse operations among some ranchers in the valley, according to Thompson, and Osentowski says Whole Foods, which intends to open a store at Willits in Basalt, is interested in locally grown products and the possibilities a greenhouse offers.
“If we want to become sustainable here, we can’t get all our vegetables from Paonia,” Osentowski said. “We can do it here. We have a lot of land.”
“We could have quite a robust local food economy,” Thompson agreed.
To foster small-scale food production, the county is being urged to simplify its rules for the would-be, backyard greenhouse gardener.
Senior planner Suzanne Wolff said she has spoken with individuals who are interested in putting up a greenhouse, but none have gone through the hoops currently required by the code.
“When we say we treat it like any other accessory structure — it has to go to land-use review — then they’re not so psyched,” she said.
It may be a gardener’s neighbors who are less than thrilled, depending on the size of the greenhouses that go up, if the county starts allowing extra floor area for such endeavors, Houben noted. “How big is it before it ceases to be a family, backyard greenhouse?” she mused. “We’re supportive, we just need to figure it out.”
In celebration of being named as winners of the “Colorado Companies to Watch Award,” Growing Spaces will offer a Summer Discount Special on their Growing Dome Greenhouses, for a limited time.
Our customers can gain up to $1,000 off on the first 10 Growing Domes purchased before July 31, 2010 depending on the size of Dome – see below for discounts*.
Imagine having great tasting, healthy food right outside your back door, even in winter! Growing Dome greenhouses can help us build the kind of lifestyles we all want to create.
Customers of the sale are required to take delivery by Sept 15th, 2010.
Call our friendly staff for additional details at 800-753-9333 or email:info@growingspaces.com
The State of Colorado recently recognized second-stage growth companies that are developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and creating new industries throughout the state.
The program, called “CO Companies to Watch” had several hundred companies in the annual competition, but only 50 of them were named as 2010 CO Companies to Watch award winners. One of the 50 companies was local business, Growing Spaces, LLC, the manufacturer of the geodesic Growing Dome® greenhouse. Anyone can nominate a company for the award. Growing Spaces was nominated by Joe Keck and Lynn Asano of Southwest Colorado’s Small Business Development Center.
Growing Spaces, located in Pagosa Springs Colorado, has been in business for over 21 years. The company has supplied the Growing Dome to more than 1,200 clients in 48 states, and 11 countries. Best-known customers include Toyota Motor Co., Shumei Natural Gardens at Rodale Institute, and Naropa University.
Using technology in combination with wind, sun, water and earth, Growing Domes are efficient yet affordable. They allow the growth of fresh vegetables, flowers, fruit, and herbs year round, with minimal extra heating or cooling.
The dome structure resists wind and weather, and has an enormous amount of growing space. Even a 15’ Growing Dome can produce 400-500 pounds of produce per year – enough to feed two or three adults.
Yet, the dome is popular for more than growing plants. Its beauty and serene environment is perfect as a sanctuary for an enclosed hot tub, a relaxation/meditation space, or a community gathering place. As an off –the- grid enclosed indoor garden space, it is a living classroom for over 35 schools and 8 Indian Reservations and a shared garden for several communities and neighborhoods. As such, the Growing Dome teaches people to work with natural systems and the seasons in planting and growing, as well as re-directing our use of fossil fuels for energy to renewable ones. It is designed to be successful in remote areas and on rooftops, as well as expanding the growing seasons in difficult climates.
The company has tripled its sales and continued to expand its workforce over the last few years, with all of its hiring coming from the Pagosa Springs area. Growing Spaces is a direct-based business, meaning they contribute to the local community by having 50% or more of their sales coming from outside of the community. This expands the local economy, making more dollars available to its residents. Part of that growth has been in providing Growing Domes for communities, educational institutions and small farms.
Whether it’s a community like the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community wanting to re-introduce native and indigenous foods or a school like Rio Gallinas wanting to change how its children eat and teach them where food comes from, Growing Spaces provides a year-round greenhouse and the knowledge to help them grow. Their staff is well-equipped to offer classes in permaculture, sustainability, holistic health, and sustainability.
Through its brilliant design construction and renewable energy use, the Growing Dome® provides an optimal environment for those wishing to grow fresh, organic and nutritious vegetables, herbs and fruits throughout the year. At the same time, the dome dramatically shrinks the environmental footprint by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. Aiming to be a part of the “solution” to the problems of our times, Growing Spaces models the success of economic viability and social responsibility along with environmental sensitivity.
If you would like more information on Growing Spaces and owning your own Growing Dome, please feel free to call us at 800-753-9333 or visit us at www.GrowingSpaces.com
