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Students Learn Firsthand About Growing Food

14 May 2012, 10:10 am

The Taos NewsA great partnership between Taos’ Chrysalis Alternative School and the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps has come to fruition with the building and gardening of their new 26′ Growing Dome. Thanks to this article from The Taos News we get to share with you their outstanding progress…

“Students at Taos’ Chrysalis Alternative School are learning about agriculture and local history while enjoying the fruits of their labors this spring.

Students have been working in a ‘Grow Dome’ for several months as part of their agricultural curriculum, headed by Miguel Santistevan and with the help of his Agricultural Implementation, Research and Education (AIRE) group. The dome was constructed last fall with the help of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps and funding from AmeriCorps and the Kellogg Foundation, according to information from the Youth Corps.

“Rocky Mountain Youth Corps hopes that greenhouses and Grow Domes become a common sight in Taos,” an announcement from Rocky Mountain Youth Corps states. ‘We look forward to supporting this type of project in the future.’”

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Where in the World? – SWEDEN

11 May 2012, 4:46 pm

26' Growing Dome in Sweden26' Growing Dome in 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, put into building the pad for their 26′ Growing Dome.

And now to the winners, oh wait a minute…

In late May my wife, Janet and I will join the Johansson family and begin installing their 26′ Growing Dome. We invite you to follow the international installation on this blog.

CONGRATS to first place – Maj Britt, second place – Richard Black, and third place – Hilde.
Thanks to all for playing and keep in touch!

Richard Miller
Growing Spaces Vent Maker

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Testimonial from May’s Dome of the Month Winner

11 May 2012, 4:22 pm

Dome of the MonthWe picked this photo of Urs’s 22′ Growing Dome as May’s Dome of the Month before receiving this wonderful letter from him. It just so happens that his photo received the most “likes” to date, a lucky 111. Nice work Urs and thank you for the kind letter!

Dear Puja and Udgar,
Thank you so much for your outstanding work, designing, manufacturing and selling these Domes. It is a real asset to this world and a wonderful idea. As a Swiss I appreciate your perfect work when it comes to details like every nut and strut, every single triangle, the ropes for the vent restriction, the cover of the middle of a B-Side… and on and on and on…

You are doing an extraordinary job. And although I never got into personal contact with you two during the last 10 weeks – just within the construction movies – I want to express our  “Thank you” for what you put into this project. What an amazing idea and realization!!

And – You have gathered an outstanding crew! I especially want to mention Jaime DeGraaf, who did the best job ever – of anybody I was ever dealing with during the last 23 Year since I am living in the U.S. now. She was always around  — even and especially in the middle of the worst crisis. Not to forget Jessica, the gem in your money department!

Although I had to go through great lengths with the delivery of the dome kit I never felt alone or bad dealing with Growing Spaces. You are were always here and I know, if we would have had the slightest trouble with building the dome, your help would have been around.

All is fine now and I celebrated the dome´s birthday yesterday Sunday 15 April 2012  with a glass of my favorite wine.
It was the highlight of my life for the last 10 years.

So I hope you enjoy my few pictures.
Want more of them,  please let me know.

Have a wonderful time and thank you very much once more.

Urs Walter Schriber, Yachats OR

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Growing Dome Garden Management Workshop

24 April 2012, 10:22 am

42' Roaring Fork High SchoolInstructor: Jerome Osentowski of the Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institutue (CRMPI)

Dates: Saturday, June 2nd – Sunday, June 3rd

Times: 10am to 4pm

Some of the details that will be covered include, worm farming, pest traps, beneficial insects, banker plants, proper planting times for your indoor climate, amending soil, and forest gardens. The workshop will include on-site instruction in the Growing Spaces Growing Domes ® and a half day tour of residential Growing Domes® in and around Pagosa Springs. Also included is a virtual tour of Phoenix, the four season greenhouse at the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute where Jerome brings forest gardening indoors!

About the Instructor:
Jerome Osentowski is the founder and director of the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute in Basalt, CO (7000’). His half-acre demonstration site began as a successful commercial market garden operation. It has evolved into a series of greenhouses and a permanent forest garden, characterized by a complex integration of perennial edibles, fruit and nitrogen fixing trees, medicinal herbs, and annual vegetables.

Jerome founded the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute over 25 years ago, with a mission to develop the art and science of permaculture in our Rocky Mountain climate. Since then, he has developed an acre of pinon-juniper hillside on Basalt Mountain, into a lush paradise of edible forest gardens. The Permaculture Institute site includes four greenhouses, the largest of which supports tropical perennial plants year-round, including banana, papaya, passion fruit, mango, citrus, fig, and a large variety of annual vegetables and salad greens. He is a pioneer in the use of perennials in greenhouses as well as creating healthy self-supporting CRMPI Jerome Ostentowskiindoor eco-systems. The fuel to heat these greenhouses is the sun – passive solar heat is stored in the soil as a “climate battery”, and supplies 75% of the heat needed during cold periods. The remaining heat is provided by a wood stove in an attached sauna, adding a beneficial aspect to a cold wave. Electricity for running the fans that distribute solar heat throughout the system comes from the grid, but the Institute’s large photovoltaic solar panel array creates more electricity than the Institute uses.

Cost for 2-Day Workshop: $80

Space is limited. To register contact Danyelle at 970-731-2120

 

 

Filed under First Steps/Good Dirt, Gardening Tips & Owner stories, Green Ways, Pests & Diseases, Temperature Management, The Growing Dome. Tagged , , , ,
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A Featured Favorite Blogger

18 April 2012, 8:51 am

As we find more and more ways to connect with fellow gardeners around the country we are amazed at the overwhelming number of backyard gardeners, homesteaders, professional landscapers and school gardeners that are out there writing about their experiences. It’s so fun to see a the virtual garden blooming and growing. We would like to do our part and water the seeds planted by these talented bloggers, so we’ve decided to join in the Blog Party movement started by the gals at #gardenchat and take some time out to feature one of our favorite bloggers.

We would like to feature Bridget at “The Nickel and Dime Ranch“. She has a lovely, fun and escapist style that takes you right away into her Northern New Mexico ranch. Her posts are full of beautiful photos and fun antidotes about her curious dog and thieving steers. She’s also a wonderful quilter and shares vibrant photos of patterns and fabrics. Bridget shares favorite recipes and eateries too. There’s a little bit of everything. We first met Bridget back in March of this year when she purchased her Growing Dome from us and, of course, we enjoy the updates on her garden the most. As we check in on occasion to find an update we find ourselves reading about the other things going on in her life and enjoying those posts just as much. Thanks Bridget for giving us a window into your world:

Nickle and Dime Ranch Blog: http://northernnewmexicoranchito.blogspot.com/

For more information on favorite bloggers of other gardeners visit: @thegardenchat here.Bridget's 18' Growing DomeNickel & Dime Ranch

Bridget's FabricsBridget's 18' Growing Dome

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Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership Comes into View

17 April 2012, 11:26 am

Last year we shared with you the vision for Pagosa Springs’ Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership (GGP) and how this sustainable movement was poised to change our community in big and beautiful ways. We are excited to post an update with a rendering of the proposed project and an overview of the design. This is all really coming into view and is very encouraging for everyone involved.

Geothermal Greenhouse PartnershipMore about the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership…

Mission Statement – Harnessing renewable solar and geothermal energy to grow safe, affordable food for local people; provide an attraction for visitors year round; create educational opportunities; nurture local businesses and create jobs; cultivate community pride and develop economic vitality and sustainability.

This is an organization whose energy, creativity and contributions are focused on:

  • creating a center for K-12 interdisciplinary education and advanced study in agriculture and renewable technology
  • providing a test site for year-round organic crop cultivation at high altitude using renewable energy
  • providing affordable, organic, locally grown food for people and businesses
  • providing year-round community gardens

Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership Design

 

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A Child Gets His Wish

16 April 2012, 4:11 pm

Ever heard about the “Children’s Wish Foundation”? Well we had the amazing opportunity to be involved with them in fulfilling the wish of a boy with Leukemia. He asked for his own Growing Dome. We’re speechless about how beautiful a thing this is and are very glad to share this nice article The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada  – Saskatchewan Chapter wrote about the gift:

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine wrote, “Our food should be our medicine.  Our medicine should be our food.”  When their son Shemuel was diagnosed with Leukemia, parents Sigrid and Lance took these words to heart.

Already familiar with the health benefits of organic vegetables, the family researched other ways nutrition could aid in Shemuel’s treatment.  They soon realized that their new food choices were not only good for the whole family, but for the environment as well.   “When your child is sick,” says Lance, “your whole world turns upside down.  Changes are inevitably made to your lifestyle.  Shem’s process of treatment led to buying organic.”  This also planted the seeds of nurturing Shemuel’s passion for gardening.

Like many Saskatchewan gardeners, Shemuel wished he could beat winter and garden all year long.  The Children’s Wish Foundation granted him his wish by providing him with a 26-foot Growing Dome that can sustain plants year round with nothing more than solar power.   The Growing Dome will be installed this spring, as soon as the ground is thawed enough to dig.

Gardening has proven to have benefits for Shemuel; the process is therapeutic.  His dad is ecstatic about the granting of his son’s wish, which has not only made them healthier as a family, but has given Shemuel a passion to throw himself into, a way to get away from hospitals, treatments and doctors. He is even thinking about making a career out of gardening, though for the time being he’s happy improving his yield.  Shemuel says his most recent crops were the best because he could listen to audio books while weeding.  “It can take two hours to weed,” Shemuel says, “I like to listen to the classics like The Three Musketeers.”

“He finds it therapeutic to put his fingers into the dirt,” confirms his father.  “It’s a delight for him to watch them pop put of the soil like a mad scientist!  It’s a great thing for him.”

Story provided by The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada – Saskatchewan Chapter
P.O. Box 309, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3L3

t: 306-955-0511 f: 306-653-9474
tf: 1-800-267-WISH (9474)
www.facebook.com/ChildrensWishSK

 

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Where in the World Contest

16 April 2012, 4:10 pm

26' Growing Dome Site

 

 

 

 

 

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 of a little contest I came up with called ” Where in the World “. Submit your guesses to where in the world you think this may be by simply submitting a comment to this blog post with the continent, country and region or town by April 30th. I’ll select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd closest winners and contact them by email. As a reward for your great guesswork, Growing Spaces will send out organic, heirloom vegetable seed packets, my choosing, to our three winners.

Hint ! Hint ! It’s not in Colorado, USA.

Enjoy, Richard the Growing Dome Vent Maker

 

Click the photos to enlarge.

 

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March & April Dome of the Month Winners

16 April 2012, 3:01 pm

Congratulations to Kris Gunning of British Columbia, Canada. This gorgeous photo of her family’s 42′ Growing Dome garnered the most attention of any entry to date. For how well received and liked the photo was and because, well of course, we liked it too, this photo won the Dome of the Month contest for March 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Piskor’s 22′ Growing Dome and outdoor garden in Michigan won April’s Dome of the Month contest. This photo generated a lot of conversation and questions and Mary stepped right in to share her story. She lives in a beautiful area along the Rifle River and is able to enjoy an indoor garden, outdoor garden and nature all around. Mary’s a pretty lucky gal. We were happy to have her share her photos.

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Listen in on Positive About Pagosa

29 March 2012, 2:50 pm

We have a great recording to share with you from an interview at the local KWUF Radio’s Positive About Pagosa radio show with Udgar Parsons, Growing Spaces LLC owner & founder. Udgar shares his journey of discovering Pagosa Springs, Colorado as the home for his family and his business  and how he came to create the Growing Dome. He also shares about the increasing application of the Growing Dome as a community centerpiece for schools and organizations and talks about Growing Spaces’ overall educational mission. We always mention our “Unique Business Culture” here at Growing Spaces and it’s really exciting to hear Udgar explain what that means and where that comes from.

Listen Now to Growing Spaces Owner & Founder, Udgar Parsons on KWUF Radio

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