Jeff Forristall’s Small Outdoor Greenhouse

Jeff Forristall’s 22′ Growing Dome Greenhouse Tour in Evergreen, Colorado.
inside a small outdoor greenhouse

Jeff Forristall has been a long-time supporter and friend of Growing Spaces since he came across us almost ten years ago watching Udgar’s first YouTube videos.

“When I first saw Growing Domes, I was reminded of a movie I saw as a child called Silent Running. It’s based on a future Earth barren of all flora and fauna, where the planet’s ecosystems exist only in large biosphere pods attached to a spacecraft.“

Jeff said that he thought Growing Domes were such a “cool future project and someday he would have one.” When his sister Liz and brother-in-law Lem were looking into purchasing the company in 2018, he had to advocate it. Fast forward to today, Jeff is now the proud owner of a 22′ Growing Dome greenhouse kit, and Lem and Liz Tingley are the owners of Growing Spaces. We suppose you could call it fate or a dream come true.

The last time we caught up with Jeff and his puppy Theo was in December of 2020, not long after he planted his first round of crops. We are excited to jump back in one year later and tell you a little about the changes and improvements Jeff has made since then.

Greenhouse Automation

Jeff’s goal was always to extend his growing season and provide food for his family. Still, where most dome gardeners choose to be off the grid, Jeff took a different approach—opting to go for an automated outdoor greenhouse garden which, for now, requires a bit of electricity.

A few things he added to automate his outdoor greenhouse include an auto irrigation system, an in-line pond heater with a filter that regulates and maintains a constant water temperature of 70 Fahrenheit, and a dehumidifier he is in the process of building.


“The pond heater is mainly to keep my koi happy and safe, but it also helps create a better environment for my Meyer lemon trees. They are tender plants and would practically die every winter in my house. Now they are thriving.

Jeff currently has some koi and a peacock turtle looking for a new home. If you are interested, you can connect with Jeff in our Facebook group or email kenzie@growingspaces.com.

Hydroponics – Aeroponics System

In addition to automating the greenhouse, Jeff also tried his hand at aquaponics. He was using the nutrient film technique in conjunction with his above-ground pond. The nutrient film technique (NFT) is a hydroponic growing technique where a small, shallow stream of nutrient-rich water recirculates roots through a channel, gutter, or tube.

Jeff’s NFT Hydroponics System

In the beginning, the aeroponics system in his small greenhouse produced a lot of microgreens, but he admits it was an enormous task, and if only he “didn’t have to work,” he would have been able to dedicate more time to it. As it was a “good set up.”

Advice for Future Dome Growers

Jeff wants everyone to “Go as big as you can afford and document the whole process to gain a better understanding of the life inside your small greenhouse.”

He believes gardening is “An art, a science, and a joy. There is nothing better than growing plants in a walk-in greenhouse in the middle of winter. The garden greenhouse is perfect, and the UV-protected polycarbonate panels do a great job of protecting plants from harsh, heavy-duty weather.”

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You can find all of our Featured Growing Dome’s highlighted in our monthly newsletter “The Happy Grower,” on our social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram), and in our blog. At the end of the year, we create an annual calendar that includes every Dome of the Month. We send them to all Dome of the Month participants, along with a gift of Growing Spaces gardening goodies! Apply here.

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author avatar
Kenzie Jackson Marketing Director
I studied marketing at Eastern Illinois University and have been working as the Marketing Director at Growing Spaces since May 2019. What I love most about my job is getting to tell the stories of our customers in our featured dome articles. It’s all about connecting through storytelling, and it’s pretty cool to see all the different ways people use our greenhouses.

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