Growasis
The Growasis farm is an educational indoor farm for school groups, neighborhood residents and the general public. Our goal is to create a sustainably-designed "living classroom" that engages thousands of visitors annualy around issues of sustainable food, soil and nutrition.
In 2010 the GrowHaus performed basic renovations on a small portion of the Growasis space and began growing in a proof-of-concept farm. This area currently hosts frequent tours, classes, and interactive workshops. During 2012, Growasis will be renovated to install passive heating and cooling systems, replace the walls and roof with insulated polycarbonate panels, and build interior growing systems.
The interior of the renovated Growasis space will be designed through an integrated process that incorporates community feedback with permaculture principles to minimize inputs of energy and water. Potential design elements include:
- Community aquaponics plots for local school groups and families to grow their own fish and produce year-round
- A solar-powered root-zone heating system to recirculate heated water under the soil surface, speeding plant growth while minimizing the need to heat the air
- A "wall of water" storing thermal mass for passive solar heating
- Perennial polyculture beds with integrated vermicomposting
- A microgreen zone for schoolgroups and farmers-in-training to plant and harvest
- An edible landscaping nursery to grow locally-appropriate berry bushes, fruit trees and other perennials for sale
Our Building | Hydrofarm | Growasis | Market | Aquaponics | Outdoor Improvements
Our full master development plan can be downloaded by clicking here.