Colorado Greenhouses
Growing Spaces is based in Pagosa Springs, and Colorado is home to some of the longest-running Growing Domes in the country. The state's high altitude, intense UV, big diurnal swings, and dry air create growing conditions unlike anywhere east of the Rockies, and dome owners across the state are putting their domes to work year-round. This category brings together stories, growing strategies, and practical advice from Colorado's Growing Dome community: altitude considerations, snow load practices, what works in the Front Range versus the Western Slope versus the San Luis Valley, and the projects of dome owners statewide.
Backyard Greenhouse Planning: From Meadow to Sanctuary
January 21, 2026
See how thoughtful planning and site preparation helped Wanda and Angelo create a thriving 18’ Growing Dome backyard greenhouse sanctuary.
Growing Tropical Plants in a Greenhouse Where Snow and Desert Meet
December 19, 2025
Growing tropical plants in a greenhouse is possible in the high desert. See how one grower creates year-round abundance.
Greenhouse Automation: Freedom & Food Security in a Dome
October 20, 2025
Explore how Steve’s Growing Dome uses greenhouse automation to manage water, climate, and pests while providing reliable food security and freedom.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Rocky Mountain Gardeners: From Texas to Colorado
August 4, 2023
Tommy and Leslie Kearney transformed their love for gardening from Texas to the challenging landscapes of Pagosa Springs, CO. With the help of a Growing Spaces 26' dome, they conquered the short growing season and harsh weather, cultivating strawberries, tomatoes, avocados, and more. Their success proves that with the right setup, passion can overcome any climate.
This Is Not Your Average Joe’s Backyard Greenhouse
March 5, 2023
Nestled in a canyon just south of Pagosa Springs along the Blanco River sits the quaint little cabin of Joe and Nancy Drake. Not far from their cabin, right in their backyard, a 22’ Growing Dome stands full of life. A welcome contrast amid the stark white blanket of snow.
Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership: Thriving Community Greenhouses with Sustainable Energy
January 7, 2023
Today the community venture known as The Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership, Inc, consists of three 42’ Growing Dome greenhouses run on geothermal power, a native plants garden, a rotary club garden, and an amphitheater along the San Juan Riverwalk. The greenhouses use geothermal energy from nearby natural hot springs. This renewable energy source helps to maintain a consistent temperature within the greenhouse, allowing for the growth of a variety of plants year-round in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
Hugelkultur Garden in a Greenhouse
October 13, 2022
Deborah Rich and Mark Oppegard built their 26' Growing Dome in southwest Colorado to keep the critters and deer out of their garden and protect them from fluctuating weather conditions. In just a few short months, they have built raised beds, created a thriving pond environment, and implemented an age-old gardening practice called hugelkultur in the greenhouse.
Climate Battery Greenhouse Design
August 11, 2022
Every Growing Dome greenhouse kit comes with a mini climate battery of sorts that we refer to as the Undersoil Ventilation System, previously known as the central air system or undersoil heating & cooling system. A climate battery is a ground-to-air heating system made up of a series of underground tubing that circulates air several feet below the soil's surface. The circulating air helps regulate temperature and moisture.
Growing Dome Food Banks: Feeding Our Communities
July 5, 2022
One of the values Growing Spaces holds most dear is helping those without access to fresh, healthy food sources. According to the USDA, the current rate of food insecurity is 10.5% of all households in the US. That means 13.8 million people in this country are without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. and beyond to alleviate food insecurity challenges through education, community outreach, and donations.
Growing Dome Featured in Architectural Digest
May 5, 2022
Growing Dome Owner and Oscar Winner Hilary Swank, her Husband Philip Schneider, and their pack of rescue dogs were featured in Architectural Digest recently. Hilary has an incredible new home in the southwest Colorado wilderness, with a sprawling 168 acres, incredible mountain views, and a 26' Growing Dome Greenhouse.
Jeff Forristall’s Small Outdoor Greenhouse
December 8, 2021
The last time we caught up with Jeff and his puppy Theo was in December of 2020, not long after he planted his first round of crops. We are excited to jump back in one year later and tell you a little about the changes and improvements Jeff has made since then.
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.”
The Garwood’s Double Dome Story
October 8, 2021
You might ask yourself how someone who was "never really was a gardener" found herself with not one but two greenhouses. Well, according to Kate, the answer was simple, "peas." They didn't have enough room to grow all of the peas they wanted (10 pea plants) and other varieties of fruits and vegetables to eat.
From Novice to Green Thumb: The McKibbens’ Colorado Greenhouse Success
September 7, 2021
Being a gardener in Colorado is tricky. Especially at high altitude (7,600 ft) in Bayfield, where amateur gardeners Bob and Radel Mckibben have made their home. If it is not wind or hail destroying their outside garden, it's critters and cold weather. That is until 2020, when they fell in love with a Growing Dome greenhouse after hearing of it from a friend and taking a tour in person—deciding to purchase a 26' greenhouse kit as a 50th-anniversary gift for each other.
Off-Grid Gardening in the Mountains of Coaldale, Colorado
August 5, 2021
Like many in our Growing Dome community, Laurel and Will Biedermann’s Growing Dome adventure started with a dream. A dream for a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. In 2016 Laurel and Will retired from city life in Colorado Springs and relocated to the small mountain town of Coaldale, Colorado, to begin their self-sufficient journey.
Greenhouse Sanctuary in Southern Colorado
June 2, 2021
Retirement, and the past year at home, has allowed Udgar and Puja to slow down and experience the joy of their Growing Dome® as a place of sanctuary from a Growing Dome® owner’s perspective as opposed to that of busy business owners.
Heirloom Tomatoes in a Growing Dome Greenhouse
March 1, 2021
Robyn & Martin Schulze purchased their property in Chromo, Colorado, many years ago, with a dream to move away from Longmont, Colorado, upon retirement. This is where they first heard of Growing Spaces on one of their many weekend trips to the property. At the time, Robyn was doing her best to tend an outdoor garden in Longmont where the weather was wild, and the winds were strong. She knew that someday she would have her very own Growing Dome.
Urban Greenhouse Gardening in Golden, Colorado
February 1, 2021
Malik is originally from Iowa where he graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's in Enterprise Leadership and a Psychology minor. His passion for gardening and growing food flourished during his time in the Grow: Johnson County apprentice program. It was clear after spending just a short period of time with Malik that he is passionate and dedicated to educating others about the importance of growing your own food.
Automated Greenhouse in Suburban Denver
January 1, 2021
In addition to gas, electricity, and water, Richard ran an Ethernet cable underground through the conduit to a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch in the dome. This allowed him to plug a WiFi node and a SmartThings hub into the switch. He then installed three PoE cams in the Dome: one on the north end, one on the south, and one underwater. "I can watch the dome interior on my phone or computer anywhere. I put in a set of three 6 watt LED lights on the bottom of the pool, so now I can see the fish more easily. For backup, there is a SmartThings temp/humidity sensor in the dome and a door sensor that can warn me if I’ve left the door open.