2024 Growing Spaces Articles Archive
57 posts
The blog's busiest year. 2024 ran a full Preserving the Harvest series on canning, dehydrating, and cold storage, deep crop guides from peppers and garlic to saffron and avocado, and a wide look at community domes in schools, hospitals, and wellness centers.
Managing Winter Humidity in a Greenhouse
December 17, 2024
Manage winter humidity in your greenhouse with tips on ventilation, water usage, heating, and disease prevention for healthy, year-round plant growth.
Growing Domes Thrive as Therapy Greenhouses
December 3, 2024
As the owner of Growing Spaces, I have the privilege of collaborating with various organizations, including schools, non-profits, and community groups, to promote sustainable and innovative growing and healing practices. Through our in-kind grants and partnerships, we aim to empower individuals and organizations to cultivate their own food, regardless of their climate, location or resources. …
Pickled Beets and Fig Jam Make Festive Holiday Gifts
November 25, 2024
When the fig trees started producing in our Growing Domes this summer, I rushed to dry or freeze as much as possible. I knew there would be a jam recipe this fall. It just so happened, that the green chiles were ready to harvest at the same time I found this recipe for a Serrano…
Feel the Beat on Growing Beets in Your Dome
November 23, 2024
Do you want to grow beets in your dome? Follow along as we drop the beat on growing beets! Learn tips for growing beautiful beets in a dome greenhouse. Along with gardening tips, we'll share the history of beets, fun trivia and health information.
Preserving the Harvest: Home Canning, It’s Simple, You CAN Do It!
November 18, 2024
Ready to embark on a culinary adventure? Let’s dive into the world of home canning, where you can transform fresh produce into delicious, long-lasting treats. Canning is a method of food preservation where food is processed in sealed containers to extend shelf life. Those containers can be glass jars or metal cans. For the home…
What Is The Best Automated Greenhouse Irrigation System?
October 30, 2024
In this guide, we’ll explore both ancient and modern irrigation techniques to help you find the best automated greenhouse irrigation system for your needs.
Growing Saffron in a Greenhouse: How to Plant, Care for, and Harvest Saffron Crocus
October 29, 2024
Learn how to grow saffron in a greenhouse or Growing Dome, including where to plant saffron corms, how to prevent rot, when to harvest saffron threads, and how to store your homegrown spice.
2024 Photo Contest Winners
October 29, 2024
We’re excited to announce our Photo Contest Winners. The decision was difficult, as there were over 70 images to judge! Our first, second, and third-place winners all walked away with gift certificates to Growing Spaces. First Place Second Place Third Place Photo Contest Honorable Mentions
Preserving the Harvest: Dehydrating, Dry It Out
October 23, 2024
Drying foods is one of the oldest forms of food preservation. Using the sun or the heat from a fire were the methods used by ancient peoples. Drying removes the moisture from fruits and vegetables, preventing the growth of bacteria or mold. As with many types of food preservation, the recommendations are often changing and…
Vermiculture, Vermicomposting, and How to Do It
October 22, 2024
What’s the Difference Between Vermiculture and Vermicomposting? Vermiculture is the cultivation or farming of worms, whereas vermicomposting uses the worms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for plants. Both terms often overlap in their use and are a great way to reduce waste, improve soil health, and create a sustainable gardening practice. This blog…
Wish You Were Here…5th Annual Customer Appreciation Event Recap
October 4, 2024
If you weren’t able to attend our Customer Appreciation Event this year, we’ve gathered together the highlights and resources provided by our diverse panel of speakers.
Heartwood Cohousing: A Thriving Sanctuary of Community and Sustainability
October 4, 2024
In a world where community connection and sustainability are more important than ever, a unique model of living is emerging. Modern developments maximize privacy but often lack a sense of community. Cohousing is not a new concept, originating in Denmark in the 1970s, it aims to create a place where community, sustainability, and love for…
Growing Fennel in a Greenhouse
October 1, 2024
Interested in growing fennel in a greenhouse? Discover tips on planting, growing, and harvesting fennel in this comprehensive guide along with health benefits and trivia about fennel.
Preserving the Harvest: Pickling and Fermentation
September 24, 2024
Pickling includes both preserving food by submerging in vinegar or by fermentation in a brine. Discover the differences and similarities between these preservation methods.
Innovative Aquaponics at SFCC: Transformative Learning in a 26’ Dome
September 6, 2024
At Santa Fe Community College a 26’ Growing Dome greenhouse is an integral part of their course offerings. This state-of-the-art facility isn’t just a greenhouse; it’s a living laboratory powered by aquaponics, where students dive deep into the future of agriculture and environmental stewardship. Aquaponics in a Growing Dome The Growing Dome greenhouse creates a…
Growing Dome Greenhouse at Valor Point VA Domiciliary!
August 27, 2024
Join us in celebrating Valor Point Domiciliary, our 2022 grant winners, as they embark on their transformative Growing Dome project, led by the visionary Jessica Conyers; together, let's sow seeds of change, cultivate a flourishing garden of renewal, healing, and inspiration for veterans in need, and become a part of their remarkable journey towards a brighter future.
Growing Peppers: Some Like It Hot, Some Not
August 26, 2024
Growing peppers is easy once you master some simple requirements: sunlight, spacing and water. Growing Peppers Growing peppers is a matter of taste…literally. Do you want hot peppers, medium, mild or sweet? No matter what kind they all require a long, warm growing season. Let’s dive into pepper science! There are many types of peppers…
Preserving the Harvest: Freezing Food for Nutrition and Convenience
August 22, 2024
Freezing food is one of the easiest and most common forms of food preservation. It works because the cold temperatures inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Historically, if you lived in a cold climate this form of preservation by freezing had been used for centuries. The quick-freezing methods we use today, are credited to a Canadian…
A Beginners Guide to Greenhouse Aquaponics
August 21, 2024
Aquaponics is a growing method that combines aquaculture and hydroponics. Aquaculture is the process of raising fish and hydroponics is a soilless growing method. In short, aquaponics uses the wastewater created by fish in an aquaculture system as fertilizer for hydroponically grown produce in a recirculating system. This type of system allows you to reduce…
Celebrate the Harvest Season with Green Chile Recipes for Every Occasion
August 19, 2024
Come September in New Mexico and parts of Colorado, the onset of Autumn is heralded by the smell of roasting chiles in the air. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or creating a special date night dinner for two, we’ve got a green chile recipe to celebrate the harvest season. In my family, Thanksgiving or Christmas…
Ultimate Guide to Organic Integrated Pest Management: Strategies for a Healthier Garden
August 2, 2024
“Pests” are part of the natural ecosystem. Getting rid of them is an impossible feat, but managing them will help keep populations at tolerable levels for both the plants and the people who enjoy the plants. There are a few basic ways to tackle pest management, but an integrated approach will be the most effective….
Edible Gardens and Dome Greenhouse in Boston
August 1, 2024
Edible Landscaping Creating edible gardens in your backyard is a growing trend in the US, as it creates beauty, biodiversity, and a sustainable source of healthy, nutrient-rich, organic food for your kitchen. Ben Barkan of HomeHarvest has been on the front end of that trend and has been helping customers cultivate edible landscapes in the Greater…
Garlic Chicken, Lebanese Djaj Biltoom, Fit for a Feast
July 31, 2024
This roasted Lebanese Garlic Chicken, Djaj Biltoom, with a Toum dipping sauce will be the unexpected star of your next backyard BBQ. If you’re a garlic lover, skip the chicken and go straight for the toum.
Preserving the Harvest: In Oil, Salting, or Sugaring
July 30, 2024
In this article, we’ll look at extending the shelf-life of food by salting, sugaring, and storing in oil. In the modern kitchen, these techniques alone are not safe for long-term storage. As you will see, they are best used when combined with another food preservation method, such as drying, refrigerating, or freezing. Sugars and salts…
Growing Garlic: A Garden Superhero
July 29, 2024
Interested in growing garlic in a greenhouse? Discover tips on planting, growing, and harvesting garlic in this comprehensive guide along with health benefits and trivia about garlic.
Customer Appreciation Event 2024
July 29, 2024
We hope you’ll join us for our Annual Customer Appreciation Event September 14th from 9:00 am – 2:30 pm at the Growing Spaces campus located at 1868 Majestic Drive in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. It’s all about you! We want to thank you for your loyalty and support as customers and give you a forum to gather with…
Top 10 Activities, Attractions, and Dining in Pagosa Springs
July 25, 2024
Whether you're seeking adventure or relaxation, Pagosa Springs is an ideal destination to experience the wonders of nature and warm small-town hospitality.
Grow Your Way to Long Life: The Centenarian Diet
July 3, 2024
Healthy eating, exercise, mindfulness, and meditation have been central to our company's values since we began in 1989. We're thrilled that so many people around the world are now inspired by the blue zone regions, famous for their high number of centenarians, to start growing their own food.
Rio Grande Hospital Wellness Center: Find Your Best You
July 2, 2024
Experience empowerment and inspiration at the Rio Grande Hospital Wellness Center — a community hub for vibrant health and longevity.
Preserving the Harvest: Cold Storage and The Root Cellar
June 26, 2024
From drying to freezing there are many food preservation methods to make the harvest last longer. Today, we're highlighting the cold storage method and exploring the idea of building a root cellar.
Growing Sweet Potatoes: Easy as Sweet Potato Pie!
June 25, 2024
Sweet potatoes are a great addition to your dome greenhouse. They are delicious, nutritious and will benefit from the long growing season a dome greenhouse provides.
Happy National Pollinator Week!
June 17, 2024
Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate the vital role these insects play in our environment. It's also an opportunity to reflect on our practices to be sure we're doing our best to help them thrive.
Is Straw Bale Gardening the Best Gardening Method?
May 29, 2024
Creating a backyard garden is an exciting and fulfilling adventure, but filling raised garden beds can become expensive. Luckily there are a few types of gardening that will not only help to reduce costs but improve the quality of the soil over time!
Nasturtiums: Edible, Effortless, Dazzling Companion Plants
May 29, 2024
Nasturiums are easy to grow, edible, a gorgeous ground cover and a great companion plant for your greenhouse garden or outdoor garden.
Nasturtium Recipe Collection—Our Favorite Ways to Use Them in Cooking
May 29, 2024
Looking for a nasturtium recipe? Find your fave in one convenient collection: nasturtium pesto, spring rolls, shrimp salad with pine nuts, pickled seeds
How to Grow Fresh, Juicy, Dome Grown Tomatoes!
May 3, 2024
Learn how to successfully grow tomatoes in your dome greenhouse. Determinate or indeterminate? You decide! Enjoy growing fresh, dome grown tomatoes with our guide.
The Best Vegan Taco Meat
May 2, 2024
The best vegan taco meat starts with whole grains and fresh vegetables. Eat the rainbow with this whole food plant- based recipe. Many of these ingredients can be grown right in your own backyard!
Urban Agriculture Takes Root in Omaha with City Sprouts
May 1, 2024
When you envision Omaha, Nebraska you might think of Lewis and Clark or world-renowned steaks. It might surprise you with its growing urban agriculture movement and the world’s largest indoor desert housed within the world’s largest glazed geodesic dome. That is not the only dome in Omaha, however. Tucked into a residential neighborhood on an…
Floating Gardens: The Sustainable Food Production Secret of the Ancients
May 1, 2024
This innovative farming technique, the floating gardens of Xochimilco, has supported thriving civilizations for centuries.
Holy Guacamole! How To Grow an Avocado Tree in a Greenhouse
April 5, 2024
Learn how to successfully grow an avocado tree, or two, in your dome greenhouse. Enjoy fresh, dome grown avocados!
Decadent Dairy Free Avocado Ice Cream
April 4, 2024
This dairy-free avocado ice cream is sure to satisfy your craving without the guilt! Rich coconut milk and ripe avocados create a delectable guilt free dessert.
Celebrate 55 Years of Earth Day
April 1, 2024
🌍 Why Celebrate with a Growing Dome? Growing Domes are more than greenhouses. They are ecosystems in miniature, designed to provide you with a year-round gardening space regardless of the weather outside. By harnessing the power of the sun and utilizing passive solar energy, our Growing Dome greenhouses offer an environmentally friendly solution to food…
Modern Homesteading Conference 2024
March 20, 2024
Growing Spaces is excited to be participating in the Modern Homesteading Conference in Coeur D’alene, ID June 28 & 29th, 2024. Come find us in the “Midway” to learn more about the wonderful world of Growing Domes, and how you can create a more sustainable lifestyle by growing your own food all year long with…
Top 10 Gardening Books for Beginners, Experts, and Everyone in Between
March 16, 2024
Gardening books are a great resource for beginners and an amazing way to expand your knowledge even if you are a seasoned pro. We have put together a list of some of our favorite gardening books just for you.
A Unique Spin on a Mediterranean Classic: Borage Tzatziki and Gluten-Free Falafel
March 5, 2024
A unique spin on a Mediterranean classic. Borage tastes like cucumbers and adds beautiful color. Perfect for those looking for healthy meatless meal options! Serves: 8-10 Prep Time: 25 hours Cook Time: 15 minutes
Keeping Chickens in a Greenhouse: A Balanced Look at This Unique Combination
March 5, 2024
Calling all modern homesteaders, backyard gardeners, and chicken lovers! Can these fluffy dinosaurs help us in the garden or should we leave them in the coop?
Growing Spaces Greenhouses Events 2024
March 4, 2024
See a list of all Growing Spaces events in 2024 in one convenient place.
Growing Borage In a Greenhouse A Beautiful Bee Friendly Plant
March 4, 2024
Elevate your greenhouse gardening with borage, the bee-friendly herb that beautifies your space and supports a thriving ecosystem. Easy to grow and perfect as a companion plant, borage offers both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits. Discover the simplicity of cultivating borage for a garden that buzzes with life and flavor.
The Best Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lavender Glaze
February 6, 2024
Lemons are among the most popular fruit-bearing plants to cultivate in a Growing Dome greenhouse. Because they are available year-round at the grocery store many people associate lemons with fresh lemonade on a hot summer day. However, it may surprise you to learn that lemons are, in fact, considered a winter fruit. Their peak season, when they are most abundant and of the highest quality, typically extends from December to April.
Growing Through Deep Winter: A Comparison of Greenhouse Approaches
February 6, 2024
Deep winter greenhouses (the Minnesota design) and geodesic domes (what we build) are the two most established solutions to growing through long cold winters. Here's how each approaches the problem, what they can and can't do, and what 30 winters of operating domes from Alaska to New Mexico have taught us.
Growing Lemons is Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy
February 5, 2024
When Your Growing Dome Gives You Meyer Lemons, Make Lemonade! Jump to: Growing Lemons, Best Location for Lemon Trees in a Dome, Planting Your Lemon Tree, Companion Plants, Lemon Tree Care, Managing Pests, Harvesting, Pruning, History and Trivia, Health Benefits of Lemons Genus: Citrus x limon ‘Meyer’ Common Name: Meyer’s Lemon …
Finding Peace at The Prolific Oxygen Dome
February 5, 2024
The 2019 National Library of Medicine study revealed a troubling link: high-crime areas often see increased rates of depression and PTSD. This problem is especially acute in Cleveland, Ohio, which MoneyGeek ranks as one of the top 10 most dangerous cities in America. Amidst these challenges, Aharon Ben-Keymah’s initiative at the Prolific Achievers Academy in…
The Best Fruit Bearing Plants to Grow in Your Greenhouse
February 5, 2024
Imagine a transition from a quiet, snow-covered backyard into a warm and bustling greenhouse. This is not just any greenhouse, but a Growing Dome, where the harshness of the outside world is replaced by a lush, fruit-bearing oasis. The air is fragrant with Meyer lemons, and the soothing sound of a waterfall from an above-ground pond completes the ambiance. In this realm, greenhouse gardening is limited only by your imagination. Over recent months, we've explored a variety of fruit bearing plants ideal for greenhouse cultivation. Now, we present them to you in a concise, easy-to-access guide.
Peeling Back the Secrets of Growing Bananas
January 2, 2024
Jump to: Growing Bananas, Ideal Conditions For Growing Bananas, Where to Grow Bananas in Your Dome, Planting Banana Plants, Growing Banana Companion Plants, Caring for Banana Plants, How to Manage Pests, Growing Bananas Year Round, When to Harvest Bananas, Banana History and Trivia, Health Benefits of Bananas Often called a tree, the banana is an…
Cultivating Sustainability Inside the Bear Park Permaculture Center
January 2, 2024
In 2013, a group of sustainability studies students at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs gathered to brainstorm ideas for a permaculture haven on campus. During that session, Natalie S suggested transforming a sunny old soccer field into a solar greenhouse. A decade later, this haven has become the well-known Bear Park Permaculture Center, fostering sustainable education, creativity, and social inclusivity. One of the main focal points of this project is a 1,400-square-foot Growing Dome Greenhouse installed in 2020.
Bananas as an Excellent Egg Substitute: The Case of Banana Pancakes
January 2, 2024
Forget eggs! Bananas are the secret ingredient to light and fluffy vegan pancakes. This easy recipe uses mashed bananas for binding and sweetness, creating pancakes that are bursting with flavor and moisture. Plus, we've thrown in some melty chocolate chips for an extra decadent touch. Serve with maple syrup and fresh banana slices for a breakfast or snack that's as good as it is good for you.
Plug In or Power Up? Unveiling the Secrets of On-Grid and Off-Grid Greenhouse Options
January 2, 2024
Our company, Growing Spaces, began as a 100% off-grid greenhouse company with emphasis on helping people live a more sustainable, healthy lifestyle. While the driving force behind what we do has not changed, i.e. we are still here to help you take the steps to live a more sustainable and healthy life. We have realized…