Greenhouse Domes – Family Food Security

“Maximize your growing space with Greenhouse Grow Dome Kits!” ‒ Made in the USA by Pacific Domes

Amidst concerns around food distribution issues and empty store shelves, many urban and rural families are beginning to take their family’s food security seriously. Given today’s uncertain economic climate, home gardens should be seen as an integral part of family food security.

What better way to ensure your family’s food security than in a Greenhouse Dome!

Right about now, you’re probably wondering, “what comes in a Grow Dome kit”? In addition to the kit, we’ve put together a series of ‘How to Build’ videos to help with assembly ‒ we invite you to check out Pacific Domes YouTube.

Families are Opting for Real Homegrown Food

Modern methods of growing and harvesting farm-to-table produce has contributed to the pioneering of smaller, manageable spaces, such as the urban family homestead. Also, boosting the growing interest in locally grown and pesticide-free food production, Farmer’s Markets continue to increase in popularity.

Aside from concerns around food scarcity, educated consumers still want to know where their food comes from ‒ that it’s fresh, pesticide-free and safe for their family to eat.

When exploring the various greenhouse kits available on the market, people are pleased to discover that Greenhouse Grow Domes offer the greatest amount of space to maximize yields ‒ as well as, the best four-season food production environment. Read on to weigh-in on the benefits of Geodesic Greenhouse Grow Domes.

Benefits of Geodesic Greenhouse Grow Domes

“I invented a way of enclosing space with what’s called a geodesic dome, which is very much stronger and more efficient than other ways of enclosing space” — Buckminster Fuller

1) Geodesic Greenhouse Structural Strength

Geodesic greenhouse domes are composed of inter-connected triangles that give them unparalleled structural strength. Buckminster ‘Bucky’ Fuller, father of the modern geodesic dome, demonstrated the difference in strength between a rectangle and a triangle by applying pressure to both structures. The triangle proved to be twice as strong ‒ and, remained rigid while the unstable rectangle collapsed.

The American Institute of Architects calls the geodesic dome “the strongest, lightest and most efficient means of enclosing space known to man.”

2) Extended Year-Round Growing Season

Did you know that geodesic structures make great year-round greenhouses and can be found around the globe, from tropical climates to Arctic regions? With near-seamless efficiency, one of the primary benefits that dome structures offer home and community food gardens is an extended growing season ‒ especially relevant to less moderate climates.

3) Cost Effective and Energy-Efficient

Rated as one of the most energy-efficient interior spaces, dome design allows air and energy to circulate without obstruction. This enables natural heating and cooling.

Specifically, a dome is cost effective and energy efficient for the following reasons:

• Its decreased surface area requires less building materials. Bucky Fuller reintroduced the idea that when a sphere’s diameter is doubled, it will quadruple its square footage, producing eight times its volume.
• Dome studies, comparing same-size traditional structures, have shown a 30% energy savings. As per the Buckminster Fuller Institute, geodesic domes are energy-efficient for this reason: “The concave interior creates a natural airflow that allows the hot or cool air to flow evenly throughout the dome with help from return air ducts. Extreme wind turbulence is lessened because winds that contribute to heat loss flow smoothly around the dome.  Additionally, the spherical dome shape acts like a type of giant downward reflector, concentrating interior heat and preventing radiant heat loss.”
• Due to less surface area per unit of volume, there’s decreased exposure to cold in winter and heat in summer.
• Extreme wind turbulence is lessened because winds contributing to heat loss flow evenly around the dome. And, in windy areas, clients choose geodesic greenhouse domes because they withstand high winds, whereas, conventional greenhouses would have been destroyed.
• Additionally, greenhouse dome ventilation allows for optimized airflow.

4) Portability and Ease-of-Set-up

Portable and easy to assemble with minimal DIY skills, a crew of 2-4 can assemble small to mid-sized greenhouse kits in less than a day. All you need is a ladder and some hand-tools, such as, ratcheting tools. Commercial sizes may require cranes and trained field crews.

5) Durability and Life Expectancy

Longevity is uppermost in people’s minds when considering greenhouse kit options. Thanks to its inherent geodesic strength, greenhouse frames can last a life-time and beyond. Made of galvanized structural steel and engineered to the highest Industry Standards, the Geodesic Greenhouse Dome has been known to be the only structure left standing after a natural disaster. UV resistant Greenhouse Grow Dome Covers have been known to last 20-years plus with proper maintenance.

6) Synergistic Benefit

Studies, backed by scientific data, have uncovered that geodesic domes have a beneficial effect on both plants and people. Scientific conclusions, derived from extensive research into bio-geometrical shapes, determined that the resonant frequency of geodesic architecture produces an environment that’s beneficial to both humans and plants. Pacific Domes brochure, “The energetic qualities of domes” further expands on this research.

7) Ecological Benefits of Geodesic Greenhouse Domes

Exerting a light footprint In a world that has become increasingly unsustainable, geodesic greenhouse domes are universally-recognized icons of sustainability. Prefab BioDome greenhouses are suited to sensitive Ecocentric (nature-centered) environments.

Their portability makes domes the preferred choice for remote locations. And, they can be easily assembled and disassembled without adversely impacting  the environment.

Designing Your Greenhouse Dome

“The world is suffering from loss of growing habitat, genetically modified seeds and global warming. Aquaponics empowers growers to stay ahead of climate change, making it the future of sustainable farming. An outdoor geodesic dome can house the system, and we enjoy maximum yields from little labor. It’s an ethical way to make healthy, quality food, affordable and profitable.”  ― Erik Oberholtzer, Tender Greens Restaurants

Things to consider:

• Design   • Site Selection   • Foundation Options   • Building Permits   • Installation Options

Designing and outfitting your dome begins with asking yourself what type of system works best for you. Modern technology has made it possible to install systems that are fairly self-regulating and require very little maintenance, such as an aquaponic or vertical tower system.

You may wish to explore the convenience of both a closed-loop aquaponics system and a grow tower system. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much food you can continually harvest… you can grow enough pesticide-free organic produce for your entire family, friends and even share your abundance at a local Farmer’s Market!

Available in various sizes, from backyard to commercial sizes, Pacific Domes prefab geodesic greenhouse dome kits offer the biggest-bang-for-your-buck. Get started today by exploring a variety of sizes and customized options.

A Tradition of Organic Greenhouse Growing — Pacific Domes attributes our success to the large community of greenhouse dome enthusiasts that have sparked our design concepts and fueled our company culture over the past 40-years. You’ve asked if it’s possible, and we’ve responded with, Sky’s the Limit!

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