Salida Colorado Greenhouse Dome
Moved from a previous site with generous funding from the Colorado Home and Garden Show this 33-foot greenhouse was rebuilt in the backyard of a home in a quiet neighborhood. Matthew Coen, an experienced organic grower is spearheading some great projects in this dome involving several schools. The greenhouse has only been planted since February, 2009 but is already on its second season of success. Following the Colorado Science Standards, Matthew and the students have filled permanent beds with soil enriched with homemade worm compost where 2 foot pea vines, carrots, chard, a variety of herbs and even a towering, flowering kale for seed saving are thriving. In addition, at the end of April, tucked under row fabric to help stabilize day and night temperatures, are 3,000 flourishing starts of kale, jalapenos, eggplants, tomatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, melon, butternut squash, and cucumbers in bright red cups. The students are involved in every aspect of the adventure from soil prep, planting, transplanting, and marketing. That's right - marketing. They sell their plants at a local farmers' market, while kale, sorrel and spinach go to a local health food store, basil to a local Italian restaurant, and vegetable starts to a spring plant sale.
Click here for a slideshow of the dome build.
