year round gardening


How to Keep a Greenhouse Warm

An arctic blast swept through the northern half of our continent just before Christmas.  On our Facebook groups we saw reports of temperatures as low as -21F in the US, and even colder in Canada.  Despite these frigid temperatures, Dome Owners were still able to keep their plants alive and thriving by adding a bit of supplemental heat.  Even if the temperature drops below freezing in the Dome, hardy plants will survive and perk back up as the sun hits them the following day.

Continue reading »

2022 Year in Review

2022 is quickly coming to an end and we wanted to take some time to reflect on how we have grown. This year was filled with twists and turns that both grounded us and propelled us into action. Giving back to our community and getting involved is something that we felt was desperately needed after the two years of isolation we all endured.

Continue reading »

Revitalize Your Garden with Calendula: How to Grow and Harvest Calendula

Calendula is a versatile and low maintenance plant that can add beauty and utility to any greenhouse or outdoor garden. This plant is not only attractive to pollinators, but it also has numerous medicinal and culinary uses. From its high flavonoid content to its ability to attract beneficial insects and act as a trap crop, calendula is an excellent addition to any garden. In this blog post, we will explore how to grow calendula, companion planting options, and how to harvest and use this incredible plant.

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

Surprise Spring Snow – May 2013 Dome of the Month

Congratulations to Cate Graber on winning the Dome of the Month contest for May 2013. This fun pair of photos of her 26′ Growing Dome greenhouse in Trinidad, Colorado shows how quickly the weather can change in the Rocky Mountains. Her peach tree had just decided to start blooming above 6,400 feet. Then Mother Nature...

Continue reading »

March 2013 Dome of the Month Winner

Reminding us of a season soon to pass…this beautiful photo from Kathy Pitts & John Stone of their 26′ Growing Dome Greenhouse in Northern California captures the essence of the winter solstice it was photographed on. One of the comments about the photo that was posted on Facebook sums it up best for us, “Lovely...

Continue reading »

Planting Early Season Catch Crops

There are some terms we year-round gardeners throw around pretty easily and “catch crop” is one of them. It sounds complicated, but is actually very simple. A catch crop is a fast-growing, quickly maturing crop that can be grown between cold season (winter) and warm season (summer) crops. January is most definitely too early to...

Continue reading »

Floating Row Covers in the Greenhouse

It’s been an especially cold winter for many parts of the country. We here in Colorado had the brunt of it during December and now the Midwest and Northeast are experiencing exceptionally cold temperatures. We’ve received a flood of questions about when and how to heat the Growing Dome. It largely depends on the amount...

Continue reading »

Winter Wonderland – January 2013 Dome of the Month Winner

Congratulations to Katja Wichland and Josh Rapaport on winning the January 2013 Dome of the Month with this lovely winter photo of their 26′ Growing Dome Greenhouse in Colorado. Protected by their adopted Chow Chow named Bella, they are at 9,000 feet elevation near Telluride and are coming up on their two-year anniversary of owning...

Continue reading »

Greenhouse Helps New Gardener Learn Quickly

We love hearing from our Growing Dome owners, so when we received a very encouraging email from Lori Binczak, we had to share it with you guys. It’s so great when we get little reminders like this that remind us why we do what we do. We can’t believe what she’s accomplished in her 18′...

Continue reading »

The Return Customers

Meet David and Edna Allan, some home gardeners who have enjoyed their Growing Dome, enjoyed it so much in fact that they have actually bought seven of them. In this video they talk to Puja Parsons about their many Growing Domes, and some of the techniques they use to to grow all year long.

Continue reading »

Story Time With Truckee Community Farm

Bill Kelly and Susie Sutphin, two of the people who have started a project they call Truckee Community Farms, came to Growing Spaces and explained what their focus is and how they got started. We love to hear from people like these who take a good idea and put it into action, and we are...

Continue reading »

Restoring Keweenaw Bay, Michigan

In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a program to restore native ground cover 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...

Continue reading »

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!  

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

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....

Continue reading »

The Harvest Center Makes News

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...

Continue reading »

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,...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

INTRODUCING…The Classic Kit

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes the last 6 months deciding how we can change our company and our product to better serve you and make the experience of buying and owning a Growing Dome even more enjoyable. Over the next couple of months we’ll be rolling out some new features. The first phase...

Continue reading »

Cripple Creek Kids Start Their Own School Garden

This high altitude 22′ Growing Dome is finally coming to fruition for these elementary school students in Cripple Creek, Colorado and their story made the local newspaper. We are very excited for them and wish them happy gardening! Here’s an excerpt from the article: On the theory that kids are more likely to eat vegetables...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

January’s Dome of the Month Winner

Congratulations to Hakan Hammer of Norway on winning the Dome of the Month contest for January. He submitted two gorgeous photos of his 26′ Growing Dome in twilight. We had to choose between the two, which was difficult, so his second photo was the runner-up!

Continue reading »

Slow Money Entrepreneur Showcase Presentation

If you missed it last month, we have it to share with you now! Puja Dhyan Parsons, Owner & CEO of Growing Spaces® LLC was one of 24 people representing her company in the Entrepreneur Showcase at the Slow Money National Gathering on October 13, 2011 in San Fransisco, CA. A hallmark of the Slow...

Continue reading »

Dealing with the Pests in Your Life

When the summer sun provides a daily flush of fresh produce we are lulled into a happy, comfortable state. Then the daylight begins to escape us and the warmth dissipates. In the last month or so you may very well be asking yourself, “Why are the spider mites, aphids, and white flies having a heyday...

Continue reading »

November’s Dome of the Month Winner

Congratulations to Larry Berger of Winominee, WI on his gorgeous photo of his aromatic Brugmansia inside of his 22′ Growing Dome. Larry posted so many great photos throughout October and September that we had a hard time choosing. He may not have received the most votes on any single photo, but all combined definitely make...

Continue reading »

Aquaponics, Hydroponics and More at Reed City High School

Reed City High School in Michigan is taking full advantage of their 51′ Growing Dome and all of the learning opportunities available inside. They are experimenting with aquaponics, hydroponics, and barrelponics. They’re even making their own worm tea. The students help raise plants and food for sale and collect scientific data along the way. What...

Continue reading »

4th Annual Colorado Entrepreneurship MarketPlace in Pagosa Springs, CO

We are excited to share this very valuable opportunity for our small community in southwest Colorado. Pagosa Springs will be hosting this two-day conference offering small businesses owners educational and networking opportunities. The conference is extremely affordable at $30 per day or $50 for both days and includes tours of two companies in Pagosa Springs,...

Continue reading »

Gardening & Beyond Video Series

To follow the theme of the Growing Domes®, we like to promote “going local”. You can’t get any more local than growing your food at home and we support local gardeners as part of this movement. In 2010 Udgar Parsons, Growing Spaces Owner & Founder, taught at a “Gardening & Beyond” educational program that was...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

Our Growing Domes Handle Spring Winds

Many people are concerned that the Growing Dome® will be able to handle high winds. Basically the shape is such that the winds flow effortlessly around the Growing Dome®. They have been able to withstand recorded winds of 130 miles per hour in Browning, Montana, Alaska, and the front range of the Colorado Rockies. The...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

Building, Heating and Enjoying the Growing Dome

Good Morning, I am happy to share with you my personal Growing Dome experiences. In response to a recent question about where to place the Southern Burner Heater (Update: Southern Burner closed in 2019) inside the Growing Dome…you place it so the hot air is blowing on the water tank. This allows the tank to...

Continue reading »

Feeding a Crowd in February from the Growing Dome!

Here at Growing Spaces, we are lucky enough to have employee lunches provided by food from the Domes on site. Yesterday, from two 22′ Growing Domes, we harvested enough salad greens and kale to feed a crowd of 12 people. Not bad when the weather outside is still in the teens and low 20s and...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »

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...

Continue reading »