School Greenhouses
Discover how schools use greenhouse gardening to teach students about science, nutrition, sustainability, and food systems while growing fresh produce year-round. These articles feature inspiring school greenhouse projects, curriculum ideas, and real examples from educators who use Growing Domes as living classrooms. Learn how a school greenhouse can engage students, strengthen communities, and cultivate the next generation of gardeners and environmental stewards.
Hands-On Discovery in the SOIL Lab Growing Dome
May 27, 2025
Students explore the SOIL Lab’s Growing Dome, tasting plants, learning about ecosystems, and experiencing hands-on lessons in a living outdoor classroom.
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…
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.
Cooke City School’s Closed Loop Food System
July 5, 2022
Cooke City might be a town of only 140 residents, but there is nothing small about it. Located between Yellowstone National Park and the Beartooth Mountains in hardiness zone 4a, this quaint school is no stranger to big mountain weather. In fact, Cooke City has been referred to as the snowiest town in Montana, averaging 207 inches of snow per year. So you can imagine the disbelief had by many when Lara Belice, Cooke City schools only teacher, poised the idea of year-round gardening.
Colorado School of Mines Dome Greenhouse
November 8, 2021
Every year the seniors at the Colorado School of Mines participate in a Capstone Design Project. In the fall of 2020, Marla, Christine, Hannah, Juliana, Andrea, Micah, and Zoe took on the Mines Greenhouse Capstone project. They were met with the challenge to establish a “campus greenhouse that will supply local organic produce to Mines students and Mines Market. The team rose to the challenge raising over $7,000 for the project and splitting the solution into two parts. The first part is raised outdoor garden beds that serve as a community garden space where students can rent plots and grow food. The second part is a 22’ Growing Dome better known by students as “Mines Tiny Greenhouse.”
News and Events, Fall/Winter 2021
October 8, 2021
Stratton School has expanded the garden program to include a grow dome, allowing the program to run through all but the coldest months.“The goal of the garden program is to provide a sustainable, alternative food experience for students and faculty that encourages hands-on learning, health, and well-being at Eustis School,” Wuori said. “Stratton School wants all students to leave Stratton with the knowledge of food choice and the importance of community through understanding local resources.”
School Garden Program In Connecticut
May 3, 2021
Along the border of New York and Connecticut in the Northwest Hills, there is an “intentionally small” school. The Marvelwood School in Kent, Connecticut, is a school for grades 9-12 who are inspired to find their passions through hands-on experiences and where gardening is considered an “essential skill that enriches lives.”
Unlocking Paradise: Tropical Greenhouse in a Cold Climate
December 2, 2020
When most people think of a tropical getaway, they imagine it on a beach in the Bahamas or a bungalow in the Caribbean. You would never imagine such a lush tropical place to exist in a greenhouse in New York unless you are the students of Homestead School, that is.
News and Events, Summer 2020
August 31, 2020
It has been a busy, bustling summer for Growing Dome lovers. Backyard, school, and community gardens are on the rise; we couldn't be more excited. To celebrate, we decided to share some recent articles and project stories that Growing Spaces is proud to be featured in.
Geodome Greenhouse in Canada
July 29, 2019
The construction of their geodome greenhouse was a school-wide effort with students contributing from all grades. It took them three weeks to build the structure.
Growing Bananas at 60 Degrees North
November 26, 2018
Janet and I first met Bjorn Oliviusson in Fall 2012 when we arrived to help install the 33′ Growing Dome Greenhouse sold to the Royal Institution of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. As described in Bjorn’s post, it ended up at a school near the university, a pleasant setting, but late Fall in Stockholm the sunlight…
Cloud City Farm: Growing the Impossible at 10,000 Feet
September 6, 2018
Cloud City Farm: From Superfund Site to Community Gardens, Thriving High Altitude Farm and Year-Round Growing Dome Greenhouse With only 28 frost free days a year, and living 10,000 feet above sea level, they are growing what at first might seem impossible. Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) Cloud City Conservation Center (C4) is a non-profit 501(c)3…
Inspiring and Educating People’s Lives Around the Globe
September 20, 2017
Featured Growing Dome Greenhouses from Maine to California
Littleton Academy and Annie’s Pond
October 1, 2015
In 2014, the fine folks at Littleton Academy, in Littleton, CO, were awarded the Growing Spaces In-Kind Grant Award. The mission of their project, in their own words: “to create an environmentally efficient and sustainable greenhouse that can be funded after inception by the revenue generated from the selling of seeds, flowers for Mother’s Day, organic…
Sierra House Elementary: Going Beyond The Curriculum
June 11, 2015
Sierra House Elementary School in Tahoe, California purchased two 18’ Growing Domes® from Growing Spaces® in September 2014. The installation was complete by November 2014. Michelle McLean, the dome chair; Kristi Wilson, first grade teacher & Dome manager; Rebecca Bryson, assistant Dome fundraiser; and Ryan Galles, Principal of Sierra House Elementary, had only dreamed about…
Growing Spaces 2015 Grant Award Announcement
May 18, 2015
Growing Spaces is proud to announce this year’s grant recipients. We had several applicants this season, which made the decision quite difficult. By weighing several different factors, such as the quality and details provided in the application, we arrived at a conclusion. We also considered the number of people that would be affected by the…
The National Environmental Education Foundation Partners with Growing Spaces
May 18, 2015
Nizhoni Elementary School in New Mexico used a Growing Dome Greenhouse to develop a Learning Lab
Community Greenhouse in Manchester, UK Makes Real Food
March 30, 2015
Here at Growing Spaces we often talk about how we have Growing Dome Greenhouses at over 100 schools around the world. Our founder, Udgar Parsons, grew up in England and has spent the later part of his life in the US. His multi-national background makes him naturally excited to now own an international company. When…
2014 In-Kind Grant Winners Announced
May 20, 2014
Grant Awards Announced We are pleased to announce the three winners of this year’s Growing Spaces In-kind Grant Awards. Each of these well deserving organizations has diligently planned and raised funds for their school and/or community gardening program that will include a Growing Dome® greenhouse. It is with great joy that we join the movements…
From Brownies to Broccoli in the Greenhouse
April 14, 2014
On March 25, 2014, in Durango, CO, a group of dynamic young women from the Telluride Middle School presented their service learning project as part of the Destination ImagiNation Project Outreach Challenge. The team, dubbed “Telluride Grow Dome Girls”, was tasked with identifying, designing and implementing a project that addressed a real community need. They…
Columbine Elementary’s New “Growing Dome” Greenhouse – a 21st Century Learning Center
March 14, 2014
Boulder community unites for hands-on, year-round garden education Boulder, CO March 10, 2014 – On Friday students, parents and staff at Columbine Elementary are holding an “Open Greenhouse” – the first chance for the community to check out their recently constructed 33 foot-diameter geodesic Growing Dome Greenhouse. The new greenhouse is considered a pilot for…
Seven Years and Countless Flowers at Colonel Wright Elementary
February 5, 2014
This Growing Dome Greenhouse in Oregon is rewarding students with a fresh lunch inside the winter greenhouse
Durango Students Lead Movement in Eating Locally Grown Food
November 20, 2013
Animas Valley students and their 22′ Growing Dome school greenhouse make big news, eating locally grown food. From the Durango Herald newspaper November 18, 2014: “Students and faculty at Animas Valley Elementary School were busy on Thursday afternoon collecting tomatoes, red lettuce, radishes and a few carrots from a greenhouse and garden on the premises….
Freeman Public School Teacher Puts Purpose to FFA Studies
September 18, 2013
Freeman Public School FFA program now has a Growing Dome. Introverts are typically viewed as unlikely agents of change, and it's so wonderful when that stereotype is blown out of the water by someone like Tony Jensen of Freeman Public School. In this article that outlines the leadership role he took on to bring his students, school and school district along with building a 33 ft. Growing Dome, Tony says, "I am not one to stand up and talk to a big crowd." That didn't stop him from leading his community to raising $30,000 for the project. The creativity of the students and their teacher has made this endeavor beyond an educational mission. They are growing food with a purpose at Freeman Public School. The produce will be incorporated into their school lunches at Freeman Public School as well as go to their local Food Bank.