How to Support A Local Food Bank During the Holiday Season
Here you will find a list of plants to grow for food bank donation and how to find a local food bank to donate to during the holiday season.
Growing Dome Sustainability
A Year Round Growing Dome Greenhouse, How Does it Work?
The technologies behind what make our product one of the best greenhouse options on the market are not rocket science. They are Dome science! You might already be familiar with our seven features, but if not we are going to get down to the basics so that you can understand how they work and why they make the Growing Dome Greenhouse the best greenhouse option for you!
Water and the West: What Can We Do?
Without water, the west has a number of problems. We need to be thinking about the “new normal”, the best ways that we can conserve water, and how we can stabilize our own food systems. Our proposed solution is to go back to our roots, bring back the kitchen garden, and fight food insecurity in our own backyards.
Creating a More Sustainable Future
Our dream is to help create a world where everyone can grow their food efficiently and reliably, but we know realistically that is not possible for everyone right now. So, if you can’t cut out the middle man (aka grocery stores) just yet, we hope our video encourages you to try some of the other ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle at no cost to you.
Growing Spaces 2021 Urban Farming Grant Winners
The first recipient of our urban farming grant is Black Nickel (Hustlaz 2 Harvesters, & Garfield Terrace) in Washington DC. Black Nickel’s mission is to redevelop and revive neglected community farms and gardens in DC, and throughout the nation, and create a prototype of local farmer’s markets owned by minorities and people of color. Their goal is to implement training and education programs for children and young adults, helping foster their relationship with STEM and agriculture.
Urban Greenhouse Gardening in Golden, Colorado
Malik is originally from Iowa where he graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's in Enterprise Leadership and a Psychology minor. His passion for gardening and growing food flourished during his time in the Grow: Johnson County apprentice program. It was clear after spending just a short period of time with Malik that he is passionate and dedicated to educating others about the importance of growing your own food.
Backyard Greenhouse Dome in Idaho
Paula & Keith Rigby’s 26’ backyard greenhouse in Kamiah, Idaho sits on their retirement property nestled in between the new home they are building and Keith’s workshop. Yes, they did in fact build the greenhouse first.
Dream Greenhouse in Colorado
The Elder's, Jerilyn, Jay, Maddog, and Samantha, got their 33' Growing Dome with the hopes of generating enough food for themselves and others in the community. In just a year, their Dome has become so much more than a year-round gardening space. The Dome has acted as a getaway location for the entire family during the pandemic. Jerilyn called the expanse "the perfect place to slow down and veg out." It is truly their dream greenhouse garden getaway.
Sustainable Greenhouse
Michael and Susan are both educators committed to making the world a better place whenever they can. In June of 2013, they purchased an 18' Growing Dome. Their dream was to create a sustainable greenhouse that balances natural and man-made environments while growing food year-round.
5 Charities Fighting Food Insecurity
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!
Reflections on Retirement
Udgar and I founded Growing Spaces in 1989. The process of selling it was like looking for the right partner to pass on the baton in an exciting marathon. Preparing for that moment took extra energy. Our team had become our community as we developed the agility together to master all the moving parts of an evolving company. After retiring, we decided to travel in order to mark the change and to distance ourselves from our results-driven habits.
Earth Day 2020: Stay at Dome
Commit to reducing your Carbon Footprint by 10% with a Growing Dome. As most of us are spending the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day in our homes, the Earth is getting a breather.
Off The Vine
Optimize micronutrients by eating fruits and vegetables immediately after harvest. There are so many benefits to eating vegetables fresh from the earth. Taste, nutritional value and saving trips to the grocery store. Food travels hundreds, if not thousands, of miles before it makes it to the grocery store shelves and loses critical nutrients along the way.
Cleaning Greenhouse Panels
Winter or early Spring is a great time to clean your panels as vegetation is generally reduced, allowing easy access to the polycarbonate surfaces. According to Claudia Stover, long-time Growing Spaces dome owner and greenhouse gardening teacher, not only does regular cleaning of the polycarbonate panels increase the sanitation of the greenhouse but “keeping the dome panels clear of pollen and plant debris also helps reduce disease and pest pressure on your plants.”
Greenhouse Farming in Golden, CO
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.
Help Grow A Dome for Food Insecure Communities
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....
What is the Return on Investment for a Growing Dome Greenhouse?
With help from our customers, Growing Spaces has developed an ROI calculator to determine when your greenhouse financing will be paid off! How can a Growing Dome geodesic greenhouse save you money and provide a return on your investment? The number one concern we get from gardeners interested in a Growing Dome is the cost....
The Innate Value of Seed Saving
Seed saving as a means to restore and promote the regenerative agricultural movement Seed saving has saved my relationship with the land. A few years into my gardening journey I felt helpless as to how my work was impacting the environment. Sure, I was growing my own produce, lowering my carbon footprint, and sharing an...
Cultivating Abundance
Cultivating abundance, both financially and in my garden, has been a long journey for me. When I first became interested in gardening I was convinced I needed to grow my own food because the economy was going to crash and I’d have to know how to be self sufficient in order to survive. This belief...
Redefining Independence
Reflections on Local Resiliency and Global Sustainability Independence Day begs us to ask some of the most critical questions of the century in regards to local and global sustainability. Such questions demand that the rising leaders in sustainability choose a path that honors the freedoms the Constitution deems important. One of these freedoms speaks to...
Whole-Food Plant-Based Diet in a Growing Dome
Cara Barnes of Hollyhock Farms in Aspen Colorado talks about sustaining a whole food plant based diet out of her Growing Dome Greenhouse
Cloud City Farm: Growing the Impossible at 10,000 Feet
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: Growing Gardeners
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 in Bayfield, Colorado, cultivates their own local foodshed, grows gardeners and teaches how to harvest what you thought wouldn’t grow here. Pine River Garden Club...
The Growing Dome Insulated Greenhouse: Revolutionizing the Greenhouse Industry
Welcome to the Wonderful World of the Growing Dome® Insulated Greenhouse The Growing Dome is a net-zero, energy-efficient, insulated greenhouse. You can grow year-round with no heater, even in cold climates. A unique system that truly revolutionized the greenhouse industry. How is that possible? It’s always fun to have Udgar mic up and wander out to the...
Holiday Solstice 2017
As I think about my experience shopping yesterday, as everyone prepares for the holidays in our town, I am struck by the Holiday energy, thoughts about ending 2017, and affirming what will be healthy for the New Year. The offer of a “21 Day Pilates Holiday Slimdown” reminds me of the urge to improve in...
Thankful at Thanksgiving
It’s the middle of November, and I walk outside into the crisp coldness that reminds me winter is closer than it appears. Our backyard has Growing Domes and entering one of these is like transporting yourself into another world. It’s warm and a bit humid inside, completely opposite from the outer world I just left....
Growing Domes Featured on Episode of Living Big in a Tiny House
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...
Solar Power, Your Pocketbook, and the Environment
Save Money, Combat Climate Change, and Power Ahead When the Rest of the World Grinds to a Halt The electricity went out. The lights flickered overhead, the computer shouted a loud Kapoof! and turned off completely. I turned it back on, not thinking much of it. A little later the lights flickered and another Kapoof! from the computer. A...
Community Gardens and The Garden Project of Southwest Colorado
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 garden plot...
Littleton Academy and Annie’s Pond
In 2014, the fine folks at Littleton Academy, in Littleton, CO, were awarded the Growing Spaces In-Kind Grant Award. The mission of their project, in their own words: “to create an environmentally efficient and sustainable greenhouse that can be funded after inception by the revenue generated from the selling of seeds, flowers for Mother’s Day, organic...
An Example of Sustainability and Stewardship in Action, Mission: Wolf
Growing Domes and Mission: Wolf A Living example of Sustainability and Stewardship “A wolf in a cage is good for one thing…to teach people NOT to put wolves in cages.” Mission: Wolf I applaud the work of our friends over the mountains in Westcliffe, Colorado. Mission: Wolf You won’t believe how they are raising the...
Growing Dome Greenhouse Temperature Monitoring: Episode 7
Just over a week ago, Pagosa Springs received some much needed snow. Overnight, more than a foot of wet snow blanketed trees and mountains surrounding our little town. It’s unusual for Colorado to receive such wet, heavy snow, and much of the town actually shut down for a snow day! Although county employees and teachers...
Snow and the 2015 Harvest Tracker: Episode 6
The Snow and Cold are Here! Until a few weeks ago, the Growing Spaces team and all of Pagosa Springs, CO was still waiting for our first big winter snow. Impatience for this important seasonal event ended just a few days before the Christmas holiday when the clouds finally dumped a good amount of fluffy...
Winter Vegetable Harvest: Episode 5
It’s winter vegetable harvest time, and we hope to make it a holiday tradition. The long awaited snow and winter cold has finally arrived in Southwest Colorado, but our lush garden in the 15′ Growing Dome continues to produce yummy, nutrient-rich greens. The longer season crops we planted in October are also coming along nicely,...
Thinning Vegetable Crops: Episode 4
Welcome back to the 15′ Growing Dome! We are glad you’ve decided to join us again. Following along with our project will continue to provide you with valuable gardening tips and information, as well as show how, really, anyone can grow fresh, nutritious food in a Growing Dome, all year-round! Thinning vegetable crops is a...
Living in Gratitude this Season
As I begin this Newsletter greeting, I was just watching wild turkeys outside our window scratching for food. I always feel wonder that they return every year and surround our cabin with their good energy, reminding me of the pilgrims and Native American’s offering gratitude. I am preparing a surprise turkey dinner for a friend and...
Celebrating Growth in the 15′ Growing Dome: Episode 3
Welcome back to the 15′ Growing Dome! The Growing Spaces team is excited to share how well all of our cool season crops are growing, even as the weather continues to get colder and the days get shorter here in Pagosa Springs, CO. November is the time of year when most everyone is putting...
Growing Spaces Grant Winner Eva’s Village Gets Growing
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...
Planting Seeds in October: Episode 2
It’s October 1st, and we’re planting seeds! At the beginning of our new project in the 15′ Growing Dome, we heavily amended the soil in the outer growing beds, where we direct seeded many greens and vegetables. As we constructed a new interior bed to increase growing space with the goal of maximizing production in...
Growing Spaces, LLC. Joins Colorado Environmental Leadership Program
Pagosa Springs, CO – Growing Spaces of Pagosa Springs will be recognized Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014 at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for achievement of Bronze tier environmental leadership by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. At the 15th Annual Colorado Environmental Leadership Awards, Growing Spaces will join other Colorado companies...
2014 In-Kind Grant Winners Announced
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...
IMPROVED! Gallina Polycarbonate Glazing
Please review our new polycarbonate greenhouse page ! As a socially responsible and green business, we are always seeking ways to source materials Made in America. Products Made in America supply valuable jobs that support our economy, and reduce fossil fuel use due to shorter transport distances from suppliers to our manufacturing facility. We often...
Columbine Elementary’s New “Growing Dome” Greenhouse – a 21st Century Learning Center
Boulder community unites for hands-on, year-round garden education Boulder, CO March 10, 2014 – On Friday students, parents and staff at Columbine Elementary are holding an “Open Greenhouse” – the first chance for the community to check out their recently constructed 33 foot-diameter geodesic Growing Dome Greenhouse. The new greenhouse is considered a pilot for...
How We Built a Socially Responsible Company and What Inspired Us
Why are we a Socially Responsible Company? Like so many environmentally aware people, I was really affected by the reality of the unusual super-storms of the past few weeks as the hurricane in the Philippines and the recent tornadoes here in the United States, took away lives, homes, and livelihoods. The Climate Reality project states...
Peace as a practice taught through gardening
There is an intangible, but equally empowering peace that comes with the practice of growing our own food. Have you taken the time to understand where this peace comes from? In understanding the roots of this peace we can find ways to expand on it and move the practice over into other parts of our...
Growing Dome at the Solar Living Institute
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...
2013 Growing Spaces In-Kind Grant Winners Announced
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...
Edible Schoolyard Project: Lesson Plans, Fundraising and More!
We are so impressed and amazed to see how the school garden concept is infusing rural and urban communities across the country. The next generation honestly has so many opportunities to connect back with their food and the land. It’s also stunning how technology has quickened the pace of this movement far beyond what anyone...
Freeman Public Schools’ New Greenhouse Classroom
Freeman Public School students in Nebraska are just now settling into their new 33 ft. diameter Growing Dome greenhouse classroom. Over the course of about nine months they were able to write grants and receive enough funding to purchase the greenhouse classroom. The main contributions were grants from DuPont Pioneer and Farm Credit Services of...
Finished! 33′ Growing Dome at the Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden
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: Thursday...
Part 4: 33′ Growing Dome at the Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden
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...
Part 3: 33′ Growing Dome Installation at the Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden
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...
Part 2: 33′ Growing Dome Installation at the Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden
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...
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...
Success with Community Garden Grants
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...
Happy Holidays …
This is the time of year that my inner child delights in the music, Christmas lights and spirit of giving. My excitement is an appreciation for the turning inward of the shorter days, the relief of cozying our home and coming inside for more reflection. A reverence for inwardness symbolized by the Solstice, as well...
Truckee Community Farm Wins Your 2 Cents Grant
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 $5,000 Your 2 Cents donation...
$1000 for Making Food Awesome
Have an awesome idea involving food? Raising funds for a school or community garden and need more help? Follow this link to learn more: The Awesome Foundation Here’s what Awesome Food has to say: “Awesome Food, the Food Chapter of the Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences wants to help you pull off your ideas for improving our...
SWEDEN: Final Installation
DATELINE Sweden, the U.S. connection, the story continues… As with many “Great Times” in life, our time in Sweden came and went in a blink. The Johansson family, our wonderful hosts, represent, in my opinion, the future of our planet. I know that sounds profound, but it is the simple truth. The love, interest and...
The Pagosa Verde Symposium: Growth Strategies for Rural Colorado Communities
On August 9th, 2012, our hometown of Pagosa Springs, CO is hosting a professional collaboration to explore economic growth, renewables, geothermal development and sustainable agriculture. The goal is to move Colorado mountain towns into a sustainable future. We are excited to lend our sponsorship and support to this great endeavor and are looking forward to...
Nurturing Families in Our Community
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...
SWEDEN: Installation Finished!
Richard and Janet by this time have finished up with Ludvig and family on the 26′ Growing Dome Greenhouse installation at Ludvig’s home in Sweden. We’re awaiting a written narrative of the experience, but in the meantime, we have this photo journal of the remainder of the build. Enjoy!
SWEDEN: International Installation Begins
Richard Miller and his wife Janet made it safely to Sweden and were reunited with the Growing Dome kit shipped from Growing Spaces. The build has commenced and is coming along beautifully. The international exchange is going over great. It seems Ludvig and Richard had hit it off well over the phone and email that...
SWEDEN: We’re On Our Way!
“Dateline Sweden” Ludvig Johansson discovers 2 crates, one might contain the “Holy Grail”, eat your heart out Harrison Ford! Just kidding!! The two crates do contain what will be a great adventure, however, I’m just happy they made it from Colorado, USA to Sweden, 5000+ miles, in good shape. This other picture concerns me though....
Where in the World? – SWEDEN
Officially Announcing the Winners of Where In The World contest! And the winners are…do you hear the drum roll?? But wait, before I announce the winners, let me thank Ludvig Johansson and his family in Sweden for sharing their adventure. The new photos now posted show the amount of labor Ludvig and his Dad, Ove,...
Where in the World Contest
Many of us can look at this photo and envision what will be a great adventure. Site selection, solar orientation, leveling the ground, leveling the ground, leveling, leveling, and more leveling. You get the picture, but wait… Where in the world is this future 26′ Growing Dome site? These iconic photos have become the feature...
Love this Local Business
We love to help our community eat locally and be a vibrant hub for business and innovation. We share our knowledge of organic gardening, green corporate practices, and healthy lifestyles with individuals, communities and educational institutions. We are a Made in America manufacturing company. We love where we live and give back all we can...
Spring Planting, Inside & Out
This is the most exciting time of year to be involved in gardening and we can’t help but join in and share spring planting info. When the bug hits to get growing it’s hard to resist, but when REALLY is the best time to sow what seeds in spring? And is there a way to...
Monday, March 12 #gardenchat host: Stacey Couch
Stacey Couch was the Creative Media Coordinator for Growing Spaces LLC. She wrangles social media, navigates our online presence, and harmonizes overall marketing efforts. Her background includes a degree in Conservation Biology, Evolution, and Ecology, and years working in the field studying ornithology and botany. More recently she’s worked for animal welfare non-profit organizations and...
Join Us on #gardenchat on Monday, 3/12 at 9pm MST
We were fortunate last summer to come upon a great community of gardeners on Twitter that gets together once a week on Monday nights at 9pm EST for an event called #gardenchat. #gardenghat is presented by Bren of Creative Living and Growing with Bren Haas and includes hundreds of well-educated professional and hobby gardeners from...
Testing the Foundation of Your Garden
From time to time, we receive questions about the soil in the gardening beds of the Growing Dome. The question of soil, like many things in gardening, can be a life-long pursuit or can be a spontaneous leap of faith. Examining the interactions between micro-organisms, fungi, minerals, biomass and more keeps laboratories at the most...
An Entirely New Canvas
My family and I are in the first year with our 26′ Growing Dome. This winter we are not at full capacity because we didn’t have time to get all of the beds built before the soil we needed to bring into the greenhouse froze solid to the ground. Right now we’re growing in a...
We are Made in America
We spend a lot of time talking about our greenhouse kits and what they can do. Next, we highlight our vision of a sustainable world, and lastly, we sometimes happen to mention who we are. The increasing attention paid to goods made in America has caused us to think back to who we are as...
Visioning the Balance
“For Puja and I, everything is connected, and we are ever awed by the complexity and beauty of the natural world. Offering a product which helps people enjoy and support this beauty and the bountiful ways of nature – while growing an abundance of food – is very fulfilling for us.” – Udgar Parsons, Co-Owner...
Solar Powered Business
Did you realize that Growing Spaces is a solar powered business? The solar panels installed outside our workshop provide enough to run our shop and offices while leaving power left to send back into the grid. Our staff also participates in energy saving activities that help us make the most of the sun power we...
Farm-to-School Webinar: Sept 29th, 2011
We’ve been mentioning and following the Farm-to-School program run by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and are very excited about an upcoming webinar they are hosting next week. It is in celebration of the upcoming “National Farm to School Month“ in October. Here’s what’s in store for those attending the webinar: “USDA will...
Nurturing community while moving towards sustainability
Across continents, Growing Dome projects are more than just structures; they're catalysts for community bonding and sustainability. Witness our journey from Costa Rica, where a dome became a beacon of hope for special needs children, to Colorado's Flagstaff Academy, where it transformed into a living laboratory. These builds, akin to barn raisings, fuse construction with cultural exchange, creating profound emotional experiences and a shared vision for a sustainable future. Join us in exploring these inspiring stories of community, collaboration, and hope.
Pagosa’s Geothermal Greenhouse Project Bringing Us Home
In a world grappling with economic challenges and environmental concerns, Pagosa's Geothermal Greenhouse Project stands as a testament to community resilience and sustainable living. Embracing the 'going local' movement, this initiative is not just about cultivating plants; it's about cultivating hope and kinship within the community. Drawing parallels with the Eden Project and the transformative vision of the Aspen Institute, this project symbolizes a shift towards a sustainable, eco-friendly future. Join us as we explore how this project is shaping Pagosa Springs into an eco-destination, celebrating human ingenuity and a sustainable way of life.
A Gateway to Sustainability
As the world turns towards sustainable solutions, the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, stands out as a beacon of hope and innovation. This visionary project, transforming an exhausted quarry into the world's largest conservatory, exemplifies how communities can come together to create impactful, eco-friendly spaces. Its blend of education, tourism, and social enterprise inspires visitors globally, subtly promoting ecological awareness. In Pagosa Springs, we draw from this example, envisioning our own eco-destination with the Geothermal Greenhouse Project. Join us as we nurture this dream, planting seeds for a sustainable future and inviting you to share your green community stories.
Growing Organic Food in Urban USA
Living just 100 feet from the freeway, the Dervaes family lives a self-sufficient life in the middle of LA. They grow enough organic food on their 1/10 of an acre of available “farm” land on their 1/5 of an acre of property in Pasadena, to live year-round without going to the grocery store for food....
Jamie Oliver’s Passion, Our Gratitude
Rewinding to 2010, Growing Spaces embarked on an inspiring journey, aligning with Jamie Oliver's mission to transform global nutrition. Our collaboration reached a pinnacle during Oliver's American Road Trip, where we donated a Growing Dome to the Navajo Nation, fostering sustainable living and native plant wisdom. Oliver's dedication to educating on healthy eating resonates with our ethos. His efforts, from cost-effective meals for world leaders to tackling obesity in America, echo our commitment to 'choosing life' through sustainable practices. As Oliver's influence continues to spark change, we invite you to explore his vision for a healthier world and our shared dedication to a sustainable, nutrition-focused future.
Get Started with a School Garden from Slow Food USA
Great idea! Teachers and parents have found that introducing children to hands-on experiences in food-growing gardens helps them to understand and appreciate where their food comes from, make better food choices, be better stewards of the environment, and fall in love with fresh vegetables. Check out these great ideas for getting started from Slow Food...
Do You Measure Your Carbon Footprint?
Hunter Lovins, Author of Natural Capitalism Solutions, talks about how companies can save money by reducing their carbon foot print and increasing their profitability.
Whole Foods: Seed Fund Grants
With a joint mission of giving kids fun and engaging ways to learn about nutrition and the importance of fruits and veggies, “Yes To” and Whole Foods will be giving away five $2,000 Seed Fund Grants in each participating Whole Foods region to local schools, plus five $500 ‘Starter Garden’ grants to schools nationwide! All...
Creating a New Business Culture
I am writing after the Japanese Tsunami, the upset in Madison, the revolution in Egypt, and many other newsworthy events. It is a time of questioning and a time of “upset” I am sure, to most of us and we all have to integrate new fears, like the potential for Nuclear Fall-Out from the power...
What is the Global Significance of the Growing Dome?
We at Growing Spaces® are motivated by an awareness of the need for change in the ways mankind lives inside the Earth’s eco-system. Creative and intelligent use of resources is a prime value, as we realize that the earth is a finite system with finite resources. Respectfully, our company offers solutions to some of these...
Fall Planting in the Growing Dome
I am excited this fall, because for once I don’t feel terribly behind on my winter crop plantings. I have 2 separate beds of my “greens mixture” beets, chard, kale, swiss chard and parsnips coming up, about 3 weeks apart, I have garlic sprouted about 4″ and more just breaking through the ground. Onions are...
Pruning Your Tomatoes and Peppers
Here’s what I’ve learned lately from our 26′ Growing Dome. For a while there our life was pretty calm and I was getting to the Dome every Saturday and checking in on the plants. I’d harvest whatever was ready, clip the dead leaves or stems from the tomato and pepper plants, throw in a few...
Food for Thought
As I am moved by the amazing colors of the harvest season here in the Rocky Mountains, it seems so appropriate to share why I feel so honored to have Shumei International® teachers arrive as our guests in teaching Natural Agriculture. We Americans were once gardeners and people of the land. My own lineage were...
Adding Composted Leaves to the Soil
So Richard Miller, our resident Master Gardener here at Growing Spaces, and I finally made it to my Growing Dome for a little gardening evaluation. Turns out that my concerns about my gardening skills have a lot less to do with the results this year in my Dome, than the soil or rather in this...
Food Sharing in Our Community
The 33′ Employee Dome at Growing Spaces and my personal 26′ Dome are in full harvest mode now and it’s a little tough for even the most enthusiastic veggie lover to consume as much produce as is ready to eat! For weeks now Richard Miller and I have had a little “co-op” going on, he...
Fall Planting in Home Greenhouse Kits
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...
Paying Attention to Seed Spacing
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, not hard to do with fine little lettuce seeds. So I spent about 10 minutes plucking out some...
Abundant, Organic Produce in the Growing Dome
Look what the Dome has in store! After spending a few minutes in the domes, I had to grab my camera! We have tomatoes, grapes, artichokes, figs, bell peppers, and squash just to name a few of the wonderful things growing inside!!! What types of things are growing in YOUR Dome?!
Flagstaff Academy: Finalist for $5,000 Pepsi Grant!!!
Flagstaff Academy will soon have a Growing Dome! Parent and volunteer, Leha Moskoff, submitted an application to win $5,000 from Pepsi, Refresh Everything. Finalists one through ten win funding. Flagstaff has placed at number ten, and is currently being confirmed eligible to receive funding towards their Growing Dome project!!! This school has been raising funds...
The Benefits of Gardening in Growing Dome
The Growing Dome makes such a difference in our lives. The possibilities are just absolutely endless! And my favorite part is that my three-year old boy loves it just as much as I do. He has made friends with the frogs, fish, and salamanders, but hasn’t seen the baby garden snake yet. Soon, he hopes!
Recycling: 1.41 Oz. of Trash Created by Gardening Class
We are celebrating!! Growing Spaces hosted the first of this seasons four-part Gardening and Beyond class… In preparation for the event, we made a conscious decision to really eliminate the “normal” waste that is created by having such an event with 30 to 40 people. We used real glasses, cups, saucers, silverware and cloth napkins....
March Tomatoes in Growing Dome Greenhouse
Can you guys believe we already have tomatoes sprouting in the Growing Dome, in MID-MARCH, in Southern Colorado, from last years plants that have been ripped out!!! You won’t see a single green leaf outside the Dome, for at least another month or two!!! (We’ll be eating tomatoes from this plant by then!)
February Greenhouse Planting
I have just planted peas, arugula, beets, and radishes in our 33′ Growing Dome. The peas are taking off and they look fantastic! It is a wonderful 84 degrees Fahrenheit in the dome today!
26′ Growing Dome Yields Produce in February!
After a quick trip to our 26′ Growing Dome, I was thrilled to discover over 4 pounds of mixed salad greens and the first of our sugar snap peas ready to eat. What a treat! As our Dome is located 18 miles from where we now live, I only get to the Dome about once...
A new way to work.
Hello!! My name is Kesy, I have been with Growing Spaces for almost two years. Let me tell you that these two years have flown by. It is so refreshing to work in an environment that is positive and nurturing, inside and out. Growing Spaces produces a product and a quality of life that I...
Promoting Positive Lifestyle Change
From Janice, (new decade) In an effort to promote positive lifestyle changes, I want to tell you about a company I work for called Growing Spaces. The staff here is very excited to share our passion about the importance of our product, the Growing Dome greenhouse. Half of all American adults have a chronic illness...
Growing Spaces Conserves Energy on a Daily Basis
See the list our office team members came up with of various steps we take to preserve precious resources. We are “Committed to being a truly Green Company”. Reduce Reuse Recycle
Exploring New Ways of Doing Business
It is obvious that we live in unprecedented times. The combination of environmental and economic degradation are catalysts to review how we do business as well as how we live our lives. Growing Spaces has always been “alternative” in a way because we have a product that uses and teaches the use of natural energy...
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