Willmar, Minn. (1/5/2024)—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 University of Minnesota Extension’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP). RSDP seeks one specialty crop farmer in each of its five regions to partner on passive solar greenhouse research and education. Similar structures – called deep winter greenhouses – have been built in the program since 2016. To date, farmers have been able to profitably grow a variety of salad greens that are sold to direct market consumers.
“The new farm scale deep winter greenhouse design is optimal for farmers that 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 what is currently the off season.” - Greg Schweser The greenhouses absorb heat from sunlight, providing a lowcost, 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 only 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 have the potential to 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.” said state Rep. Brad Tabke, D-Shakopee. Tabke is a member of the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee who has championed new approaches to growing produce.
For more information on deep winter greenhouses and the request for applications, 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.
