On the first morning of the 26’ Growing Dome Greenhouse build, Tyrone's Uncle John told us that when constructing a new building it was Navajo tradition to always put the door on the East side of the building and work your way clockwise...following the sun. Otherwise, ‘it gets you all out of whack’.
We wanted to take a moment and show our appreciation to five outstanding non-profit charities that are actively fighting food insecurity. Navajo Nation, Mattersville Vets, Urban Growers Initiative, GoFarm Coop, and the Food Coalition 4 Archuleta County and the GGP are all working to improve the health and nutrition of the people in their respective communities. See what Growing Spaces is doing to support these great causes, and learn how you can help. We are also excited to announce a new Urban Community Garden Grant opportunity for 2021!
Growing Spaces is pleased to announce a partnership with GoFarm, Community Supported Agriculture, in Golden, CO. Growing Spaces has donated the use of a 26' Growing Dome Greenhouse for GoFarm's Farmer Incubator Program. The construction of the greenhouse was finished in August 2019 by a wonderful group of local volunteers, and the dome is being farmed by GoFarm Incubator apprentice Shannon Harker. Shannon will gain valuable experience with greenhouse farming and the City of Golden will gain a new, hyper-local food source. The greenhouse uses sustainable and renewable energy technologies and helps extend the short Colorado growing season and provide fresh produce for the community year-round.
These non-profits are working to increase access to locally grown organic food in their communities There are many challenges facing our planet’s agricultural systems. Climate change, pesticides, GMOs, over-farming, soil health, corporate agriculture among many others. Food insecurity is also a major concern, as many communities do not have access to fresh, healthy organic food. ...
Located on the 10-acre campus of the Jewish Community Center in Boulder, Colorado, the Milk and Honey Farm is a shining example of building a more resilient community through local organic farming.
Cloud City Farm: From Superfund Site to Community Gardens, Thriving High Altitude Farm and Year-Round Growing Dome Greenhouse With only 28 frost free days a year, and living 10,000 feet above sea level, they are growing what at first might seem impossible. Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) is a non-profit 501(c)3...
Pine River Garden Club – Bayfield, CO Growing Gardeners and a Local Foodshed with a Growing Dome® at the Pine River Community Garden Instead of garlic from China and avocados from Mexico, the Pine River Garden Club cultivates their own local foodshed, grows gardeners and teaches how to harvest what you thought wouldn’t grow here....
The Grand opening of the Mary Nash Beaupre Greenhouse at the Alfond Youth Center was a welcome sight to many children in the Waterville, Maine area. It is wheelchair accessible and features both aquaponics and hydroponics systems. It will provide fresh produce and herbs to the Kids’ Kitchen and Weekend Backpack programs year-round, and will...
Off-Grid Tiny House Paradise in British Columbia, Canada grows year-round with three 42-foot Geodesic Dome Greenhouses This episode of Living Big in a Tiny House features the ultimate tiny house off-grid paradise, complete with three 42-foot Growing Spaces Growing Domes! Situated on 380 acres of spectacular lake-front property in BC with private hot-springs and abundant...
The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado “Growing your own food is a revolutionary act.” -Vandana Shiva Gardening is Revolutionary. Your garden is significant. Gardening creates a better world, bringing health to your body and health to the planet. It cultivates a quality of beauty that merits direct experience for full appreciation. Even a humble backyard...
Here at Growing Spaces we often talk about how we have Growing Dome Greenhouses at over 100 schools around the world. Our founder, Udgar Parsons, grew up in England and has spent the later part of his life in the US. His multi-national background makes him naturally excited to now own an international...
We are very excited to announce the completion of the 26′ Growing Dome for the 2014 Growing Spaces Third Place Grant Winner – Eva’s Village. The innovative homeless shelter greenhouse is located next door to Eva’s Village at Wayne Auto Spa owned by Rob Burke. The new indoor garden will produce food for the teaching...
Central Iowa’s Homeless Shelter Greenhouse The idea of a homeless shelter greenhouse has been spreading recently and we are excited to be a part of this innovative movement. Central Iowa Shelter & Services Center (CISS) built a Growing Dome not only to feed the hungry, but also to teach those needing a second chance how...
Grant Awards Announced We are pleased to announce the three winners of this year’s Growing Spaces In-kind Grant Awards. Each of these well deserving organizations has diligently planned and raised funds for their school and/or community gardening program that will include a Growing Dome® greenhouse. It is with great joy that we join the movements...
An update from Eileen Weinsteiger the Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden Manager “Seven years ago when the Shumei/Rodale Team was designing the new Shumei Natural Agriculture Demonstration Garden to showcase a small homestead and Shumei Natural Agriculture principles it was imperative to include a unique greenhouse. We wanted a greenhouse that supported sustainability, efficiency, art, beauty, the...
We are very excited to announce, albeit a bit early, the first place winners of our 2014 Growing Spaces In-Kind Grant Program! The Boys and Girls Club of the San Luis Valley, CO was moving ahead so quickly that we had an emergency session of the Grant Program Committee to make a decision and keep...
Best Small Library in America! We are excited to share the news that one of our local libraries and the second place winner of the 2014 Growing Spaces Grant Program, has been named the Best Small Library in America by the Library Journal. This is an amazing accomplishment AND we agree completely! The residents of...
An update from AspenPointe: “A 42 ft. Geodesic Growing Dome was added to the garden in April 2013 to allow the community garden to provide programming for our clients and community year-round and to help provide fresh, local produce for our AspenPointe Café throughout the winter months. The Growing Dome was planted with diverse crops...
In October a dedicated crew from Growing Spaces and with local volunteers installed at 42′ Growing Dome Greenhouse at 8,000 feet at Aspen T.R.E.E. Colorado in cold and snowy conditions. Through the donations of the Growing Spaces crew time and donations of labor and funds from numerous community organizations and individuals, Aspen T.R.E.E. was able...
Growing Spaces recently constructed two Growing Dome Greenhouses in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska
Solar Living Institute Update: Unfortunately due to COVID the Solar Living Institute closed it’s doors in October 2020. They are still offering on-line classes. Recently we received an update from the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA of the 26′ Growing Dome greenhouse built in 2012. “The Growing Dome is one of the main attractions...
We are pleased to announce the top three winners of this year’s Growing Spaces In-kind Grant Awards. Each of these well deserving organizations has diligently planned and raised funds for their education programs that will include a Growing Dome® greenhouse. It is with great joy that we join the movements to contribute to and support...
Truckee Community Farm is a winner. Congratulations to Truckee Community Farm and the Kelly family for winning the June 2013 Dome of the Month! With this 33ft. Growing Dome Greenhouse in Lake Tahoe, California they are supplying the Tahoe Food Hub with food year round and providing inspiration for similar educational programs in their community....
4-25-13 Thursday: I love round tanks, especially when it comes to leveling. Today we were busy finishing the tank. Don’t you love Janet’s pleats in the tank liner? And, yes, for a charge she will come redo your tank! Other tasks included finishing the fans, final odds and ends at the door, and leftover parts! 4-27-13:...
We thought we might be nearing a close with the construction of the 33′ Growing Dome at the Shumei Garden at the Rodale Institute, but this story sure has had it’s twists and turns! It turns out that Richard is headed back east to work on some finishing touches and to help with consulting on...
As the 33′ Growing Dome at the Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden at the Rodale Institute continues to take shape we see how many wonderful volunteers are pitching in to make this project happen. Richard Miller, Growing Spaces installation supervisor, has been kind enough to send us updates as they go. 4-9-13 Tuesday: I checked hubs...
The 33′ Growing Dome at the Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden at the Rodale Institute is going up nicely. Richard Miller has been kind enough to send us updates as they go, so you can feel like you’re right there with them! 4-2-13 Puxatawney Phil is part of a stew right about now. No, not because...
“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...
Examples of how some communities have used garden grants to build a community garden greenhouse Community gardens create a wonderful space where neighbors and families can spend time outdoors, get good exercise and good food, and, most importantly, connect with each other. They also provide access to gardening for people who might otherwise not have...
Last week, staff members of the Shumei International Institute in Crestone, Co. took advantage of the mild November weather and travelled to Pagosa Springs for a day of relaxing, sightseeing, and, of course, soaking in the “Healing Waters” of the hot springs. After a breakfast hosted by Growing Spaces at the “Famous” Pagosa Baking Co.,...
We recently received an update from Jason Gerhardt at Naropa University Greenhouse in Boulder, CO on the current projects going on in their 22′ Growing Dome named the William D. Jones Community Greenhouse and… we were stunned that so many amazing things were going on in their greenhouse! Not only are the projects prolific, but they...
Last week, we posted a testimonial video from Truckee Community Farms’ co-owner Bill Kelly and manager Susie Sutphin talking about their project and how they’re using their Growing Dome. These two, along with the other co-owner Kevin Kelly, have been awarded the Your 2 Cents Program Grant. “The Rodale Institute’s $5000 Your 2 Cents donation...
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a program to restore native groundcover is underway. It is called the Zaagkii Project, and one of the tools they have is a Growing Dome that they utilize for propagation of endangered and culturally significant plants. This 33′ Growing Dome built in Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), is also used to give training...
We recently constructed a 26′ Show Growing Dome to join the four other Growing Domes at our facility in Pagosa Springs, CO. The 26′ diameter is our most popular size and we’ve been planning this build for that reason for a couple of years. Since we have plenty of gardening space for ourselves in the...
The Harvest Center non-profit boosts a membership of 95 gardeners and donated 477 lbs. of produce to families in need last year. This high-elevation community garden has two outdoor gardens and a 22′ Growing Dome where they grow food year round. Under the leadership of Lee Willoughby this outstanding vision has become a dream… The...
Here’s a report on the National Food Day Celebration that took place in two different Growing Domes in Colorado Springs, CO from the Bent County Democrat: “A magnet school in Colorado Springs and a demonstration garden in Woodland Park were among 20,000 venues in all 50 states hosting events held in conjunction with Food Day...
Last month we posted a video filmed at the 42′ Growing Dome construction site at Galileo School of Math & Science in Colorado Springs, CO. This month we get to share the finished project! The collaborative efforts of Galileo School, Pikes Peak Urban Gardens, District 11’s Good Food Project, Pikes Peak Community Foundation and Colorado...
I have experienced it many times; in five countries, on three continents, blending multiple languages, cultures, and generations. I have felt the power and potential while working with indigenous peoples, schools, neighborhoods, communities, and families. I have shared in their celebrations and contributed my tears and shivers of gratitude and excitement. A Growing Dome build...
Paul Renner of Gabrielle Cousins Living Foods program in Arizona pays a visit to Growing Spaces Greenhouses
What an amazing vision and project that started in 2009 and is still growing strong. Fat City Farmers is “growing farmers and community for our local food economy”. Fat City Farmers is a “western Colorado non-profit, whose mission is to create educational opportunities for organic gardening and market farming, based on permaculture principles, for the...
By Puja Dhyan Parsons, Owner & CEO Today, in June of 2011, a time of economic downturn and environmental degradation, it is difficult to watch the news. The kinship and symbiosis of community seems sometimes lost in our diversity of needs and interests as well as the focus on survival and livelihood. The loss of...
With so many innovative projects going on across the world today and so many ways to encounter the magic of communities coming together we have an endless supply of inspiration. Shifting our focus to this positive movement brings us to those who have opened the gateway to sustainability. One of our favorite stories comes from...
I was looking at an old journal from January 2010 this morning and found that I had written “Growing Spaces has a new face! As we begin the new decade in times of uncertainty and challenge, Growing Spaces is restructuring to provide more education about the life-style our Growing Domes® support and our intent to...
Allan Werthan provides an outstanding account of his visit to Arizona to build a Growing Dome Greenhouse in Navajo Nation
NESEA Green Buildings Open House features Growing Dome® greenhouse A main interest of this seasons’ tour is the year-round, energy-efficient 33-foot diameter Growing Dome® greenhouse in Thornton, New Hampshire. This year-round geodesic greenhouse can be run completely from solar power, is able to withstand high winds and heavy snow loads, as well as out last...
This Growing Dome Greenhouse on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska is known to withstand 120 mph winds
Greenhouses a growing interest amongst Colorado Janet Urquhart The Aspen Times Aspen, Colorado 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...
Growing Dome Greenhouse in New Stuyahik Alaska is growing fresh food for the community year-round
