Compared to conventional greenhouses Ceres greenhouses provide year-round growing while eliminating the need external heating and cooling. This means growers can choose from a wide range of fruits and vegetables to grow year-round, without worrying about the expense and environmental impact of heating and cooling.
Greenhouses can accommodate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, from mangos and bananas to leafy winter greens. However, plants require their own niche conditions, so it is important to think about what you would like to grow. This will affect how you operate the greenhouse.
You will need an area of your property that has significant exposure to southern light. It is best to have some eastern light access as well. Greenhouses can be attached or detached to an existing structure or home.
Greenhouses range in size, from 80 square feet to many hundred of square feet, depending on how much food you would like to grow and how you would like to use the greenhouse. Sustainable greenhouse principles can also be scaled for commercial or institutional applications, which are typically thousands of square feet.
There are several options for planting in the greenhouse. Some customers prefer raised beds, which Ceres can assist in contracting and building. Other customers prefer in-soil growing. Hydroponic or aquaponic systems can also be an attractive option for greenhouses. See our resources page for more information on some providers of these systems and their specific advantages.
Permitting regulations vary by city and county. In the City of Boulder, structures 80 square feet or smaller don’t require a building permit. In Boulder County, the limit is 120 square feet. It is important to check with your local building department about building codes. Ceres GS will be glad to assist you with this process.
Yes, the greenhouses require a small amount of electricity to power greenhouse controls. (We estimate that small residential greenhouses use about 25 kWh–about $2.50/ month.) If you would like to have your greenhouse off-grid, electricity can be supplied by a Photovoltaic (PV) system with battery storage.
From experience, Ceres greenhouses use relatively little water. For residential greenhouses, this can be easily carried into the greenhouse. Alternatively, you can use a cistern to collect rainwater outside the greenhouse, or install a water pipe to have water on-site.
The greenhouse siding is up to you. If nothing is specified, the outside of the greenhouse will be water proof oriented strand board (OSB). This can be painted, or covered with a material that matches the siding of your house.
In most cases the greenhouse will be shipped ready to be installed by unskilled labor. Ceres can work with a local contractor to coordinate the preparation of the ground, installation of the greenhouse and components, and testing of all components. Alternatively, you can help in this process to reduce cost.
Greenhouses do require additional consideration in pest management compared with outdoor growing. This is because in an isolated environment pest populations can thrive. Permaculture (using plant variety and ecological systems) is one way to naturally control pest populations. Much experience exists in the field; see our resources page for local organizations and specialists working in this area.
Composting with fresh food waste is not recommended, because it adds the risk of attracting pests (e.g. fruit flies). However, amending your soil with late stage compost, compost tea or another alternative can be a great way to grow healthy plants.
Understanding the greenhouse environment can greatly improve plant growth. For this reason, Ceres offers measuring devices to monitor greenhouse temperature, CO2, and humidity.