Our new passive solar geothermal greenhouse is being installed on the farm! It is already changing how we think about growing, seasonality, and resilience.
Winters here are long. Frost comes early, and spring warmth can be unpredictable. That reality shapes how food is grown in the North Okanagan. The greenhouse gives us a way to work with those conditions instead of fighting them.
Passive solar greenhouse with geothermal
The Greenhouse in the Snow is a passive solar, geothermal greenhouse designed specifically for cold climates. Its curved structure captures sunlight during the day, while the surrounding earth stores and slowly releases that heat. In winter, geothermal airflow keeps temperatures stable even when it is well below freezing outside. In summer, the same system helps prevent overheating by moving excess heat back into the ground.
The result is a growing space that can operate 365 days a year, with very low energy inputs and no fossil fuel heating. Fans circulate air evenly, plants stay healthier, and temperature swings are dramatically reduced.
From a renewable energy perspective, this matters. Instead of relying on propane, electric heaters, or constant energy inputs, the greenhouse uses design and physics to do most of the work. Once installed, it runs quietly in the background.
How we plan to use it on the farm
For us, this greenhouse is first a support system, not a high-volume production facility. It will be a place to start seedlings early in the spring, harden plants before they move outdoors, and extend the growing season on both ends. Any vegetables or starts we grow for sale will begin here, giving them a stronger, more consistent start.
It is also a learning space. We plan to experiment with winter greens, herbs, and longer-season crops, and to better understand what is possible in our climate with the right infrastructure. That knowledge feeds directly back into our broader farm system.
A piece of a bigger picture
The greenhouse fits into the same philosophy that guides everything we do on the farm. Build renewable energy systems that are resilient. Reduce dependence on external inputs. Plan for long-term soil health, food security, and adaptability.
Over the coming months, we will be planting, observing, and adjusting. The greenhouse will be busy with starts in early spring, green through the shoulder seasons, and alive with growth when the rest of the landscape is frozen.
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