US (MN): Deep-winter greenhouse coming to West Duluth

Seeds of Success is building a deep-winter greenhouse not far from Denfeld High School, which will extend the growing season recently started by the nearby community garden.

"The plan is to grow for a winter farmers market," said Aimee Foster, program coordinator with Seeds of Success, a Community Action Duluth venture with a focus on sustainable agriculture and transitional employment. "It also allows us to employ one to two more workers through the winter."

With a ground-breaking expected in August, the goal is to have the greenhouse ready by November — just in time to get its first growing season under the low-hanging sun.

"The original idea came when we were talking to Seeds of Success and Zeitgeist and the city about what building capacity would help with employment, the amount of produce grown and to extend the timeline of farmers markets," Junior League member Jennifer Webb said. "Another part of the plot design is an outdoor classroom accessible to everyone in the community."

A deep-winter greenhouse recently opened in Finland as part of the University of Minnesota Extension's push to build, promote and study the hot houses.

That greenhouse, like West Duluth's, will sit vacant in the summer as temperatures get too hot to support life.

Read more at the Duluth News Tribune