33′ Growing Dome Installation at Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden

“Off Again To High Adventure”
with Richard Miller, Growing Spaces Staff

Question: What do Growing Spaces, Rodale Institute, and Shumei Natural Agriculture have in common?

Answer: A 33′ Growing Dome

Yes, it’s true…Here we go again. Janet and I, the lowly vent maker, are “off again to high adventure”. Well, 15′-6″ high at least, to the top of the Growing Dome! On April 1st, we will begin installing a 33′ Growing Dome at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA for the Shumei Natural Agriculture garden. It’s been about 3 and half years since the existing 22′ Growing Dome was installed by Rodale and Shumei staff, volunteers and myself. So, this time, Janet is coming to make sure I do it right.

I’ll keep you on the edge of your seat?? with pictures and commentary. Think of it, it will be like you’re right there holding a piece of polycarbonate glazing for me and wondering why I’m in charge!

For sure, this is a special project and we are honored to be part of it. The science behind Rodale, the exquisite art of farming by Shumei and a greenhouse product that is “Where Life Thrives”, all teamed up to provide a “working” model of a way to grow and think about our life, our food!

Be part of the adventure – stayed tuned. Richard

3-29-2013 Good Friday: WATCH OUT FOR THE HOLLAND TUNNEL when in Manhattan. When we arrived at JFK Airport the Shumei farmer at the Rodale Institute, Kenji Ban, met us at Delta Airline arrivals and we were off. Little did we know it would take us 1:40 hr. to travel 6 blocks before Kenji could turn out of traffic and get us out of there. Finally, after dark we arrived at Rodale, and for now GOOD NIGHT!

 3-30-2013 Saturday: ALL PLAY AND NO WORK. I’m sitting in the formal living room of an old, circa 1827, house at the Rodale Institute looking through Our Roots Run Deep, the story of Rodale. We are waiting for Kenji to pick us up for the new Shumei House party. Shumei just purchased a 1868 old church in Lyon Station, near Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Janet and I had a GREAT time and the pictures explain some of it.

4-1-2013 APRIL FOOLS: You thought we were starting the Growing Dome, HA! HA! The pictures show our progress with digging holes/trenches for electric and looking for water lines. Next we can get to work on the greenhouse!

Read Part 2 >

Kyle Customer Experience Manager

I worked at Growing Spaces from 2015 to 2023 and returned in 2025. I’m here to guide you through purchasing a Growing Dome® greenhouse—from planning and site selection to choosing the right accessories for your climate. My goal is to help you create a thriving space for plants (and people!). I also manage the Growing Dome Advisor team and help with technical questions, installation documents, and day-to-day operations. I love empowering people to grow fresh, nutrient-dense food and watching a Growing Dome transform empty land into a personal sanctuary. I enjoy collaborating with our team to solve challenges and make it easy for anyone to buy a Growing Dome. I graduated from Western Colorado University in 2013 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my wife and our two big dogs, skiing, backpacking, and exploring the outdoors with my camera.

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