At EcoSystems Design Inc. we have well over twenty years experience designing and maintaining passive and active heated solar greenhouses suited to cold-temperate climates. At our Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute site at 7000' elevation in Basalt, CO, Jerome Osentowski has experimented with year-round indoor production of otherwise marginal annual, perennial and tree crops. The foundations of our designs are informed by passive solar design principles and ventilation systems. We work with inventor/designer John Cruickshank to custom designed simple, state-of-the-art ‘Subterranean Heating and Cooling System (SHCS)’ for each individual greenhouse. These systems work to store excess indoor heat and moderate air and soil temperatures throughout the course of a day. Click here to find out more about the SHCS.
Additionally, Jerome has been experimenting with the cultivation of greenhouse forest gardens - something he refers to as 'Bringing the outdoors indoors'. By growing otherwise marginal plants indoors, it becomes possible to cultivate mediterranean, sub-tropical and tropical plant systems - it all depends on your goals and the amount of energy you're willing to invest. We've designed and consulted on greenhouses throughout the continental United States and are more than happy to share our knowledge and experience.
