Reporting from the field:
These past few days we’ve been spending time in Oak Center, Minnesota (located about 25 miles north of Rochester), with a really great organic farmer, Steven Schwen, of Earthen Path Organic Farm. Challenged by the cold Midwest winters, Steven pondered how to warm up his planting beds. What evolved was a unique Minnesota greenhouse that uses thermal banking to grow food much of the year. His greenhouse relies upon renewable solar energy, in addition to heat exchangers, heavy insulation, and an attached ice house to regulate even temperatures, regardless of the climate outside. The videos from this trip will be released soon, but for now here are some pictures of Steven Schwen’s remarkable greenhouse. To see more pictures, including one of Steven making cookies with his daughter, follow this link to the Cooking Up a Story Facebook page:
energy efficient greenhouse and extend his growing season
