About Growing Spaces

Where It All Began

In 1980, John Denver—yes, that John Denver of Country Roads and Rocky Mountain High—teamed up with educator and philosopher Tom Crum to create the Windstar Foundation outside Aspen, Colorado. With mentorship from Buckminster Fuller, the inventor of the geodesic dome, Windstar became a living laboratory for sustainable living built around a powerful belief: if humanity could learn to “do more with less,” we could feed the world while solving many of our environmental challenges.

A Moment of Inspiration

At the center of Windstar stood a massive geodesic Biodome demonstrating sustainable food production. Visitors and volunteers traveled from around the world to experience it. One winter day, volunteer Udgar Parsons stepped inside from the frozen Rocky Mountain landscape and into a warm, humid tropical environment filled with thriving plants. The contrast was unforgettable, and it sparked an idea that would shape the future of Growing Spaces.

For almost three decades, Udgar and his wife Puja Parsons grew Growing Spaces into a thriving Colorado company dedicated to helping people grow their own food. Their vision extended beyond building greenhouses. They wanted to demonstrate that a business could succeed while supporting the health of both people and the planet. During those years, thousands of Growing Domes were installed for backyard gardeners, schools, community gardens, farms, and organizations across the country and beyond.

In 2018, Udgar and Puja passed the stewardship of Growing Spaces to Lem and Liz Tingley, who were drawn to the company’s rare combination of innovation, manufacturing, and environmental purpose. Lem, a mechanical engineer with decades of manufacturing experience, helped strengthen production and design, while Liz brought a passion for wellness and community to the company’s marketing and customer relationships.

In 2025, Growing Spaces entered another exciting era when Gary Hall acquired the company. Inspired by the Growing Dome’s enduring impact and Udgar Parsons’ vision for accessible, year-round gardening, Gary stepped in to guide the company forward while honoring the principles that made it successful.

We prioritize responsible materials, efficient engineering, and thoughtful practices to reduce environmental impact. We consider the full lifecycle of what we build, from sourcing and manufacturing to long-term use and care.

Reliability is at the heart of our brand. Our structures and systems are engineered for enduring performance, designed to be maintained and repaired, and built to last for decades, not seasons.

Education, guidance, and support are core to what we do. Through practical resources and a strong owner network, we help people build confidence and capability to care for their spaces and systems so they can thrive.

We improve our designs, systems, and education based on real-world use and evidence. We focus on meaningful improvements that help customers succeed and keep our solutions relevant as needs evolve.

We create environments that people are drawn to—calming, inspiring, and life-giving. Our spaces support more than growing plants; they support connection, presence, and time well spent.

We work with:

• Homeowners and families seeking year-round food security
• Schools creating hands-on learning environments
• Community organizations and tribal groups building resilience
• Market growers and small farms expanding their growing season

Wherever people want to grow with greater independence and purpose, we are honored to support that work.

Growing Spaces is supported by a dedicated team of designers, growers, engineers, educators, and customer care professionals — many of whom have been with the company for years.

Our leadership team brings decades of combined experience in greenhouse design, sustainable building, and customer support. We believe expertise should be practical, accessible, and grounded in real-world results.

When customers reach out, they speak with people who understand both the structure and the growing experience inside it.

We envision a future where communities live in balance with the natural world, supported by thriving ecosystems that strengthen connection, capability, and self-reliance.

Every Growing Dome built is one step toward that future.

And we’re grateful to grow alongside the people and communities who share that vision.

Join us in cultivating a future in balance with nature, and check out our current employment opportunities.

Our headquarters in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, houses all six sizes of our Growing Dome® greenhouses. Visitors are welcome to step inside and see firsthand how year-round growing works in a high-altitude climate.

The moment you open the door, you’re met with warmth, greenery, and the rich scent of living soil. Sunlight filters through the geodesic structure, the sound of moving water enhances the atmosphere, and plants thrive all around. First-time visitors are surprised by how alive and vibrant the space feels — and by the taste of a sun-ripened tomato straight from the vine.

If you’re visiting southwest Colorado, come explore the domes in person. To make the most of your trip, check out our Top 10 Things to Do in Pagosa Springs while you’re in the area.

If you can’t make the trip, you can still take a virtual tour or connect with our team to learn more about how our domes work in real growing environments.