The Passive Solar Greenhouse of the Future is Being Built in Kamloops, BC

[@michaelomalley6726]

Lot of green to grow and store veg.... conventional rich flex with yachts - Prepper rich.... high dollar root cellars .

[@jayvanwyck4717]

For those of you don’t have such deep pockets, check out Citrus in the Snow Greenhouses.

[@joduval]

This is a real dream come true! That place is phenomenal! Also building these seems like a dream job too! Double wammie!

[@aeridyne]

Just add a bath, bedroom and 1 more room and I'd just live in there haha. Would love to build something like this at some point. Always love the videos, great work and the world certainly needs more of it.

[@VergePermaculture]

thanks!

[@sustainablelivingschool12]

We are big fans of you Verge and cannot wait someday to be personally involved in a project like this....we need SO many more projects like this to decentralize our food systems and create more food security. Thank you for continuing to generously share your knowledge!

[@VergePermaculture]

appreciate the kind words! Thanks so much.

[@austingorton8363]

I'm very interested to see how this project turned out, although I haven't seen any follow-up video yet. Any chance of one in the future?

[@indica_dogo868]

Wow that's a cool and expensive as hell looking greenhouse.

[@kristytetreau7293]

Has the final cost been calculated? Would love to see a video on the finished building

[@resilientfarmsanddesignstu1702]

I like it. Nice work, Rob! We have a veggie processing and packaging station attached to our greenhouse but it was an add-on afterthought that was cobbled together and evolved over time. Your design was integrated to provide food prep and storage from the get go. The ideal system would be one that supplies you, your livestock and surplus to your community (human and non-human). Food for thought. Your client must have some deep pockets. A similar design could be constructed using cheaper materials. To achieve what we need to achieve in the coming decades, we need to lift all boats, not just those wealthy enough to afford our services. Perhaps a similar design could be used to supply people who have plots in a community garden.

[@jeehorre7209]

This looks like building it right the first time correctly done!!

[@charlieadams1313]

Well said! We are trying to lift up many boats currently in our corner of the world. We must all pitch in to accomplish the world we want to see. Thank you for doing your part 🙏

[@resilientfarmsanddesignstu1702]

@@charlieadams1313 Then, as we invest in making our community more self-sufficient, resilient and sustainable, and you do the same for your’s, we will meet one day somewhere in the middle. If we keep teaching others and multiplying our efforts, we will have the better world that we want to bequeath to our children. That is our way forward. Let’s do it!

[@charlieadams1313]

This is my vision also! Each of our micro communities represents a spark to me and as people join it’s like throwing on a piece of wood. As the fires grow across the globe they start the join. The best way to bring down a crap system that doesn’t serve us is to create a better one ❤️🌱

[@resilientfarmsanddesignstu1702]

@@charlieadams1313 Exactly! Our ''leaders'' talk and talk and talk but DO very little. So it's up to us to do. That's why we call ourselves Resilient Farms (plural). Because our goal is to make OUR WHOLE WORLD Resilient, one homestead at a time.

[@daves1563]

Gotta be over $500,000. It’s only $498,000 over my budget.

[@GreenlandRobot]

For determining root cellar air safety might want to add in CO and CO2 sensors and tie those into the red/green lights.

[@FunwithBooboo]

Super job! I'm guessing it's a 1/2 million to build.

[@mynameistwohawks]

I’d guess more… much more

[@nicholasmarcoux]

Killer design! I have long term plans for this type of system once we finish the energy systems and living space on our off grid property. It’s really Inspiring to see progress you and Curtis Stone are making in the permaculture space! Great book btw, keep up the great work!

[@nedhill1242]

They look and sound a lot alike. They could be brothers.

[@VergePermaculture]

Thanks :)

[@zyabhari]

This is amazing, my dream for self sustainability. Following your videos and progress very keenly. Thanks for sharing.

[@slaplapdog]

I love your design. The way it uses fans to move heat and humidity is very efficient and appropriate technology, but it isn't really passive. I only mention this because I think this kind of greenhouse that uses a little technology on top of careful siting and construction is a better choice than one that relies on construction and siting alone.

[@britpeek3382]

This is fabulous concept. Thank you so much for sharing this video.

[@peterbrouwer1256]

Very cool design! Well done Rob. I like how you've cycled wastes into other uses! Excited with you to see the final product.

[@slaplapdog]

Yours are the first earth tubes I've seen that are perforated. I have heard that earth tubes often have mold and mildew problems, while the air to earth heat transfer tubes of a season heat storage green house do not. This difference is usually attributed to the perforations in the latter which allow condensation to drain, and soil life to compete with the mold and mildew.

[@wildunikitty9704]

Hi ! Super cool installation ! It would be interesting to know the cost of that kind of build. Moreover, you talk about the importance of the ventilation for lifesafety reasons and my understanding is that the ventilation from the earth tubes goes in the root vegetable room. How does the garlic and squash room is ventilated ? Thanks for your amazing content !

[@overlordsshadow]

i'm guessing quarter million CAD minimum

[@VergePermaculture]

Once the project is completed, we'll be able to provide the full costs. Stay tuned!

[@jteau2239]

I'm betting it ends up costing $220 a sf (not including kitchen equipment); Can't wait to see it finished.

[@Isaacmantx]

This is the perfect homesteading setup..... now if we could do it with 2019 materials prices!!! haha

[@priestesslucy]

1819 prices is more my budget 😂

[@l0I0I0I0]

Cool! How well would this work on Arkansas? We have a high water table so basement may not work less it fill with water.

[@mandiegarrett1706]

I like to know this because I am also in Arkansas.

[@l0I0I0I0]

@@mandiegarrett1706 Hey Mandie! It's a cool greenhouse. What part of AR are you in?

[@raptormatt21]

Any consideration for using an air source heat pump as opposed to the gas hook-up?

[@dalewolver8739]

The amount of design elements in this is amazing. Great job. Would you be able to provide an estimate of cost by any chance?

[@joshnordwick7533]

I’d love to get a cost estimate as well

[@mandiegarrett1706]

Me too, in US$ please.

[@JB-yg3ew]

Yes please, interested as well

[@michaelgettens4411]

Gotta be at least $250k

[@jonathanyamashita9317]

@@michaelgettens4411 I think you're probably off by an order of magnitude. Probably need another zero at rhe end to include everything

[@RoseWoodruff]

LOVE this! Thanks for sharing!

[@sherryhawkins6682]

Hi Rob: Could please answer the following questions: - what brand of automatic window openers did you buy and where you ordered them from? - where did you order your 16 mil polycarbonate panels from? - do the panels need to be one continuous length & applied vertically? A big box staff member is trying to convince me that I should buy his 8 ft lengths of polycarbonate and apply them horizontally, and then overlap the next layer in a similar fashion as you would apply cedar shakes to the roof of your house. I haven't heard of this method before, but he assures me he knows what he is talking about. Many Thanks.

[@daves1563]

You can buy polycarbonate in 20 ft lengths or more. Do not overlap them. Put an H channel between both pieces.

[@etwobell]

Polycarb panels you can get from any commercial greenhouse supplier. Do not use big box panels. Decloet greenhouse is who I use in Ontario. Do not overlap the panels. 'Flutes' must run up / down orientation so the panels can drain out condensation. Note that one side is UV treated and stable, one side is NOT. The panel will yellow in a couple years if it's the wrong direction.

[@hughmanatee7433]

I have been thinking about another system to include in a greenhouse like yours. You could add another big thermal battery which could be heated with an evacuated tube system. You could make a 2000 gallon tank about waist high by three or four feet by whatever makes it turn out to be 2000 gallons and place it in the room as a growing surface, essentially a raised garden bed with bottom heat. You could insulate below the tank to reduce conduction loss to the soil below and allow the heat to come up through the top and also on the sides. You would have to experiment with the depth of soil on top to regulate the temperature at the roots. If the tank creates too much heat you could insulate the top a little bit and let most of heat go out the sides. Additionally you could use Agri bond over the bed to retain heat at the level of the foliage.

[@robertlaird6746]

That is an awesome greenhouse and the best by far that I've ever seen. I'm a carpenter and can easily build that but don't really know what equipment to use or how to really set it up, especially the electronic brain that your talking about (automated system). I guess I'm going to have to watch all of your videos to figure it all out unless you have plans on how to do it.

[@VergePermaculture]

We'll be documenting our process on both this greenhouse, and the one at the Verge Permaculture HQ. Stay tuned for updates!

[@kworthington6696]

This is brilliant.

[@robertlaird6746]

You can take that same concept and build a home with it on a raised foundation. I've been thinking about doing that to avoid the heating bill.

[@kathyscott4671]

Similiar to "Ceres" system in Colorado.

[@northernprairieliving4692]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing. Do you have a recent video of this greenhouse in use?

[@jimtgee]

AWESOME! Thank you for sharing.

[@shatshow7966]

This is really cool, and in my home town :) Can we have an update on it in it's finished state?

[@MAD42]

this is awesome!

[@SuzieWolferLCSW]

Fabulous video Rob!!! I especially love the geek One question is how does the greenhouse operate if the power goes out or will there be some solar panels that cover that problem?

[@Aisha_greeningaway]

Thanks for the video, it looks amazing and will def keep checking your videos to see the final product. Do you have any info on insulated rammed earth greenhouse? Interested to see difference in cost for materials, heating/cooling, moisture control.

[@VergePermaculture]

We haven't looked too much into rammed earth greenhouses, but please let us know what you find!

[@simpsonken178]

I live in Ontario and use a vacuum tube solar collector powered by a solar pump to heat water bio mass to keep my greenhouse warm all winter.

[@VergePermaculture]

sounds awesome

[@chrismovac5274]

Brilliant work Rob. Earth tubes remind me of the Earthship design of Mike Reynolds. Love the idea of attached kitchen and cellars. Makes so much sense. Looking forward to a cost breakdown. I assume you do consulting all over Western Canada? We may end up moving to BC.

[@VergePermaculture]

Yes, we do consults across Canada! If you're interested, check out Adaptive Habitat here, where Rob operates the consultations. adaptivehabitat.ca/book-an-initial-consultancy/

[@jdwilsun]

Shouldn't the south glazing be at 90 degrees to the winter sun so it will maximize solar gains when most needed? This will also gradually reflect sun as it gets higher as summer progresses. I think your angle will have extreme over heating in summer.

[@GetToTheFarm]

the standard suggestion for glazing is about equal to your particular latitude. to allow sun to heat the best in winter.

[@earthmike532]

Super informative. I would really like a more thorough description of how the northwall functions with the perforated black metal sheeting and the reactions with heating, cooling, and humidity.

[@VergePermaculture]

This should help out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4emfIVmqLR1fq8

[@benkolts]

Consider a sand battery for extra winter heat. 🙏

[@l0I0I0I0]

Also, don't really understand the use of the magnesium oxide? Also is it paint or cloth?

[@GreenlandRobot]

MgO2 panels are basically water resistant sheetrock panels.

[@l0I0I0I0]

@@GreenlandRobot Very interesting! That's what I will start using, TY.

[@theuptownbug]

Awesome build!! A smaller version is on my bucket list up north in Quesnel. Will you have freeze dryers? I have 2 and they’re indispensable!

[@VergePermaculture]

Awesome! what kind of freeze dryers do you have?

[@theuptownbug]

Harvest Right, it’s the only home use one available. I have a large and a medium. Freeze drying preserves 97% of the original nutrition and is perfect for long term storage. I freeze dry, dehydrate, can, ferment and pickle… they all have their uses to help use 100% of what you produce. Love providing food security for my family at 63 years young 💕

[@norasebastianlorenz4637]

Great job, any chance we could purchase the plans for such a build since we are situated over in France?

[@joasli]

Would it be possible to build a similar structure, which doesn't require any electricity to operate? The vents for the greenhouse could be fitted with opening device filled with expandable gas, and could the airflow ever stop in earth tubes for any reason if there was no fans in the cellars?

[@VergePermaculture]

Absolutely possible yes, but would require a much more watchful eye on metrics such as temperature. If things get too hot and you're not watching, there goes your crop.

[@teecee7151]

@VergePermaculture ... This looks incredible 🎉 👌🏾 👁👁 👍🏾 I'm close by the Loops regularly, how can I connect & hopefully take a tour for me & daughter?

[@Wrighmachining]

I love the design , im building a very small version of this just across towm from you . Unfortunatly i didnt set up the air moving system due to funding however i plan on trying a black pipe circulating system to average out the temps in sholder seasons . I would love a tour of your green house if you have time !

[@VergePermaculture]

Hey, that's awesome to hear that you have been working on a greenhouse. Stay tuned, we may be hosting tours in the future

[@ВіталійЛейбц]

Hello, can you tell about how long that construction can maintain a proper temperature for crops? I mean can you for instance plant on february or march?

[@jonathanraymondburton1650]

Do you have a lift systen to transport heavy materials from the kitchen to the lower cellar

[@soulemetals6241]

Would your plans be available to PSG students? Or even the option to buy the plans, similar to house plans? I have a community looking to build this exact setup just in slightly different dimensions

[@VergePermaculture]

We are discussing this in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

[@peterveinot2190]

Will the air flow through the wall have to continue to flow during the hottest days ( summer ) and vented outside after going through climate battery?( diverter valve / line )

[@jokowalczyk1]

Hello. Do you have a link for the polycarbonate windows for the knee wall?

[@ReneeJohansen-hc9yp]

What is the rationale for the length of the air tubes ?

[@allthingsgrowing]

So many questions. Where do i start? May have to get in touch with you guys. Too many questions to list here

[@jhornett]

Neat project! I'm looking forward to an update. What software is used for the modelling?

[@RobCooper]

I want this greenhouse. What's the cost now for something like this?

[@kate481]

Wow this is really amazing! I love the engineering and permaculture principles that go into this. Can't help wondering about the price point though. I'm wondering about a root cellar set-up for your average middle level income family with less space and maybe retrofitting rather than all new construction.

[@VergePermaculture]

Once the project is completed, we'll be able to provide the full costs. That being said, you can do achieve a root cellar on a budget: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4LbcqyJq518sKs

[@Nottherebutthere]

Yeah, great ideas realized!

[@janew5351]

Could you list some of the products used in the greenhouse ie the double black product on the back wall ?

[@beckym5730]

Do you have a video on this finished?

[@breesechick]

I wish I could do this but I'm only allowed to put a regular greenhouse up where I'm renting.

[@somethingbeautiful2212]

Thank you! I want one ;) SUBSCRIBED 🍀

[@tangobayus]

Roof seems overbuilt. You get the most value from this in winter, when the sun is at a low angle. A vertical glass wall on the south and a reflective interior would work just as well.

[@erronius1]

does the air smell like the filter cloth?

[@jimmypchacko]

Amazing! Would this work in NY or is the watertable too high on the east coast?

[@VergePermaculture]

It could potentially work in NY, providing you get enough sunlight in the winter

[@resilientfarmsanddesignstu1702]

Wouldn’t aerobic decomposition slow down and stop when the O2 is used up and speed up if more O2 is added?

[@noahbalow1422]

Is there anywhere that would work for natural or solar dehydrating?

[@justinlau3960]

Gosh how expensive is this? Are the owners farmers? Very hi tech and designed

[@YoutubeFella]

Amazing

[@TheRainHarvester]

When the plants grow, will they cover the panel?

[@stevespeakman9465]

Hi, can you recommend a permaculture design firm in southern California?

[@lynnmoss2127]

Wow this is complicated. Would a Passive geo thermal design simply?

[@offgridwanabe]

Did you do Radon testing for the underground air supply?

[@rolm7877]

Amount you need to build that if it ever pays off? At least $200,000 to build ?

[@nocogarden]

How do you get a software model before your build?

[@camw3447]

Really enjoyable, informative and well explained video. I’m so glad there is the technology and design skills to create these masterpieces. If I had the money I would love to invest in such an awesome project. What are you carrying in that backpack that was so valuable? I like how confident you are that it didn’t make you self conscious enough to remove it. We need more like you nowadays

[@nickorango]

Why not use directed mirrors to heat pipes on the wall inside the greenhouse. The pipe system should go down to heat up earth battery. Used Vegetable oil can be used in the pipe system. 428F boiling point.

[@baldufdaniel]

Do you have any counterparts or businesses you're comfortable recommending for those of us in the States?

[@gregsmith1625]

Love so many things about this design. Can you please advise an approximate building cost for one this size and do you provide building plans and at what cost? We are not in B.C.

[@VergePermaculture]

Once the project is all wrapped up we'll have a cost figure. Stay tuned!

[@ws4860]

Is there also a room to change the clothes and a toilet?

[@wendyerratt2318]

What about radon gas? We’ve been told through testing that it’s here in our soil.

[@alanmcrae8594]

It will be very interesting to learn how this awesome design performs over a couple of years of full-time use. (Some Earthtube projects appear to have issues that never seem to get resolved, and others don't report any useful performance data that would aid in analysis. Hope there will be temperature/humidity data logged both inside & outside in order to analyze real world performance.) Being a big fan of open source and wanting more people to be able to create their own sustainable homesteads, I would love to see a comprehensive systems diagram that could be used to understand how this beast is laid out and connected together. (Global climate change is going to clobber some of our current industrialized agricultural systems, so growing food in climate controlled greenhouses is a prudent step toward local resilient food security. Storing food in state-of-the-art root cellars adds even more local resilience. A very wise investment for the owner!)

[@alanboreham6466]

Hi. I am interested by the ongoing evolution of different forms of aquaponics and permaculture. As a retired engineer, though, I am sometimes a little concerned by certain aspects of construction that I’ve seen in some of the videos. In particular, I wonder whether some of the innovators are familiar with how building codes and OSH regulations can help them in their designs and safe operations. While yours looks like it has had a lot of thought put into it, I do have a few concerns that I will pass on. Building code You say that the ideal environment for storing potatoes is a relative humidity of 70%. In the video I see that the wood overhead in the root cellar is not protected from this humidity. Are you concerned about condensation and the moisture affecting the wood? Also, I see that the overhead joists are supported on joist hangers. Are these joist hangers and their fasteners appropriate for installation in a humid environment? There are different ones for different applications. It may be that the work in that room just isn’t finished yet, but I wanted to point that out. There are a number of penetrations in the web of the engineered joists to run electrical wiring. The joist manufacturer normally provides criteria for size, spacing, and location of holes. In your case, the location of some of the holes look like they may be in question. That may bear your review. Occupational Safety and Health I am concerned about your design for environmental safety in the root cellar. As you say in the video, a buildup of certain gases in an enclosed space can be hazardous. It’s my understanding that occupational safety and health regulations deal with work environments, but they may nevertheless address such conditions, and speak to monitoring of gases, which may help you with your design. Your building inspector should have advice on all of these issues, and may be able to direct you to where to find more information if you need it. I appreciate you sharing your hard work. I will be sure to watch for an update on this project.

[@VergePermaculture]

thanks for the comment, Alan

[@paulmaxwell8851]

There have been deaths in old root cellars, but they are exceedingly rare, and only happened in completely unventilated ones. There has only ever been a single case in Canada. I have built several root cellars over the years and all have passive ventilation, that is, natural convection. Very few people want the electrical bills resulting from power ventilation, and offgridders like us cannot afford to waste that power. This is a very impressive project but overdesigned and overbuilt, with the hefty price tag that resulted.

[@RobCooper]

There was no indication as to where the house would be in relation to this build

[@13Veiwer]

That's an ungodly amount of wood. Imagine the cost!

[@ARomashchenko]

I wonder how all those wood joists will do under high humidity 100% of the time.

[@maplenook]

Beautiful I’m planning on tunnels 👌

[@Logcabin3123]

wow

[@TBoneZone]

Nice Design. But Please. No Gas Heating.

[@CynicalLight]

I feel like food security, housing security, savings accounts and good investments are privileges not afforded to the majority of people on this planet and it breaks my heart that the focus is on clients not communities when building these big projects.

[@theuglykwan]

Takes a lot to get a group together to do the same. Would prob take sustained pressure for such groups to start springing up. You get people pooling to buy housing due to sustained high housing prices.

[@LouienDottie]

It’s always been like that, throughout history. A few have a lot, most have nothing. Enjoy what you have.

[@nobye9716]

If you have never heard of the 80/20 law, or 80/20 rule, you should look into it. It's just the nature of the universe to to be split in a 80/20 fashion for some reason. Like, 20% of the world has 80% of the wealth, or even 20% of the curtain carries 80% of the dust, or 20% of your clothing fills 80% of the laundry basket, it's just a weird way the world works.

[@newfreenayshaun6651]

I am privileged enough to not have a job to pay taxes for, less than $100 in savings, no assets, no property, never have... and no reliance on a government, like a garbage disposal. I am not off grid but might as well be. Do not sell property to big company people. Rent your stuff out to others, it's f* cold out.

[@rabidhellhound9714]

Are you a random guy doing this or a company? Do you have blue prints or schematics? How long does it take to make something like this? And how much does it cost? Kamloops or Kelowna are on my list for "dream locations" to move or retire (I like mountains and lakes, but live in plains amongst corn fields). So it's really nice that you're building greenhouses in an area that I'm interested in moving to and wondering how well they actually work.

[@raybon7939]

If the house was 40 ft wider I could live there.

[@raybon7939]

Now put a dome over it

[@4316rodney]

Where’s the bomb shelter?

[@mynameistwohawks]

Root cellars aka bomb shelter

[@willbass2869]

Too much....just too much. Wasteful. A solution looking for a problem. I was ok until you got to remote sensors & centralized automatic opening/closing motors for windows and garage door. Remote soil temp sensors? Really? You could buy 20 years worth of freeze dried and canned food for the price of this project.

[@cletushatfield8817]

Hard to believe that humanity survived for tens of thousands of years without enormous polycarbonate "greenhouses"?

[@baldufdaniel]

Very similar to Curtis" project

[@rich53703]

"root cellar" lol aka bunker...

[@jimgraves6464]

What out about how much you talk about co2 the WEF and green new deal will freak..😒

[@chucktrent187]

The more complicated you make something, the more likely it is to fail.

[@tomzed8696]

I want to believe....but mostly its just youtube.

[@williamm6479]

To complicated and too expensive. Also to vulnerable.