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Geodesic Dome Great For Year-Round Gardening
More than 1,000 families have set up geodesic greenhouses from Growing Spaces to supply themselves and others with fresh vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit year-round.
    “Most greenhouses are season extenders,” says Udgar Parsons, Growing Spaces. “Our Growing Domes create an enclosed garden that’s productive 365 days a year.”
    Parsons and his wife, Puja, have been building and selling geodesic greenhouses for 22 years.
    Winters are no problem for the Growing Domes. Developed in the mountains of Colo., they have been erected in the deserts of the southwest and as far north as the Aleutian Islands.
    “They’ve handled winds of more than 100 mph,” says Parsons. “Our premium model has five-walled glazing with four dead air spaces. That keeps air inside around 30° warmer than the outside temperature. Our standard model keeps it 15° warmer. If extra heat is needed, the domes take only a third as much energy to heat as a conventional greenhouse."
    The two models range in size from 15 to 51 ft. in dia. and 9 1/2 to 21 ft. in height.
    The domes are constructed with 2 by 4-in. Douglas fir struts, polycarbonate greenhouse glazing panels, a treated wood or redwood base, and 16-in. or higher foundation walls.
    Water tanks are a common feature in all the domes. Tanks range in size from 600 gal. to 2,300 gal. in domes 33 ft. in diameter and less. Tanks in the larger domes are custom designed to match dome uses.
    The tanks provide much of the thermal mass that maintains temperature in the dome. They can also be used to grow aquatic plants and/or fish.
    Cooling is provided by solar actuated vents and cooling vent fans. A solar-powered fan is included in the kit to push warm air under soil beds in the winter for improved plant growth. Custom-cut insulation panels cover the northern 2/5 of the domes. The panels keep the domes warmer in winter, shade the water tank in the summer to reduce heat buildup, and have a reflective surface that increases the light available to the plants within the domes.
    Parsons projects a 20-year life span for the domes, depending on climate and care.         The price for the 15-ft. dia. dome kit is $4,950 for standard double-glazing and $5,950 with premium, five-wall glazing. The premium style, 51-ft. community dome costs $44,950. Kits don't include heating ducts, perimeter and wall insulation, base sand and gravel or sheet metal and lumber for recommended water tanks. These costs can range from $650 to $1,950, depending on dome size.
    Videos on Growing Dome Greenhouses can be found at www.farmshow.com.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Growing Spaces, P.O. Box 5518, Pagosa Springs, Colo. 81147 (ph 970 731-2120; toll free 800 753-9333; info@growingspaces.com; www.geodesic-greenhouse-kits.com).



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2012 - Volume #36, Issue #1