Grant money is available to a limited number of Minnesota farmers to build winter greenhouses for growing fresh produce.
The opportunity, supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s AGREETT program, is available through the University of Minnesota Extension’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP). RSDP seeks one specialty crop farmer in five regions to partner in passive solar greenhouse research and education. Similar structures – called deep winter greenhouses – have been built in the program since 2016. To date, farmers have grown various salad greens sold to direct market consumers profitably.
“The new farm-scale deep winter greenhouse design is optimal for farmers who want to expand their growing season to produce crops for their customers throughout the winter while limiting the use of fossil fuel heating. This is a great way to generate revenue for your farm in the off-season,” said Greg Schweser.
The greenhouses absorb heat from sunlight, providing a low-cost, low-carbon winter food production system. The structure is built with a south-facing, angled glazing wall that captures heat from the sun. Heat is stored in an underground thermal mass of soil or rock and dissipates into the above-ground planting area at night. By relying primarily on solar heat, the farm-scale deep winter greenhouse enables farmers to grow crops using minimal backup heating from delivered fuel or electric heat.
RSDP will provide $25,000 of the expected $48,000 to $58,000 cost to build a prototype greenhouse. In return, participants agree to share access to their structure for research projects, public workshops, and demonstrations for three years. Proposals are due February 14, 2024.
“Farm-scale deep winter greenhouses can transform local food production here in Minnesota. The farmers who sell their crops at local markets or in local grocery stores will no longer be bound by the short growing season. With low-energy winter food production, growers
will increase their revenues, and Minnesotans will have year-round access to fresh, locally grown healthy foods.” state Rep. Brad Tabke, D-Shakopee. Tabke is a House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee member who has championed new approaches to growing produce.
NEWS & INFORMATION
For more information on deep winter greenhouses and the application request, visit z.umn.edu/deepwintergreenhouse. Descriptions of RSDP’s regions are available on RSDP’s website.
For more news from U of M Extension, visit www.extension.umn.edu/news or contact Extension Communications at extnews@umn.edu. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
