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Deep winter greenhouse open house set for Dec. 8

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Growing crops, flowers, and produce during winter in Minnesota is a challenge. The cold weather and reduced sunlight create obstacles that are difficult, if not impossible, to overcome.

The University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships have been working with producers and community groups to field test a prototype design of a passive solar greenhouse that enables farmers to produce crops all winter long.

This structure contains a south-facing, steeply angled glazing wall designed to capture the maximum amount of solar energy available. That heat is stored in an underground rock bed in a heavily insulated foundation. At night, that heat dissipates into the ambient air above, creating an environment suited to grow crops that thrive in low-light and low-heat conditions.

Those crops include varities of arugula, beets, mustard greens, lettuce, choi, turnips ad lettuce.

This deep winter greenhouse enables small- and mid-scale farmers to grow crops year-round.

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An open house and ribbon cutting on Dec. 8 will commemorate the opening of the Deep Winter Greenhouse at 207 W. Highway 210, Pillager, Minn. Presentations begin at 10 a.m. Visit z.umn.edu/DWG_RSVP for details on how to RSVP and attend the event.

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