Location: Aurora, Nebraska
Crop(s): Seedlings, restoration of the native prairie plants in the area
Size: 30’x 44′ HighYield™ Kit w/ inline headhouse
Application: Nonprofit Organization
Technologies: ETFE, SunSense™ controls, wetwall, GAHT® system
Estimated Date Completed: Spring 2026
In the plains of Nebraska there is an organization dedicated to connecting people and prairies. Prairie Plains Resource Institute creates opportunities for connection through their prairie restoration efforts, education and their network of prairie preserves. Ceres Greenhouse Solutions was lucky enough to be discovered by the Prairie Plains team and chosen to design their latest greenhouse project. Construction will start this fall on a HighYield™ Kit with an inline headhouse that will increase their capacity for growing native seedling plugs for their high-diversity, local-ecotype prairie restoration projects. Ceres chatted with executive director, Amy Jones, to learn more about Prairie Plains and the greenhouse project.
Who is Prairie Plains?
Prairie Plains Resource Institute is a Nebraska-based nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and conserving prairie ecosystems through hands-on education, land stewardship, and ecological restoration. Since its founding in 1980, the organization has been a leader in managing prairie landscapes, conserving native biodiversity and providing locally-sourced native seed mixes and seedling plugs to support prairie and wetland restoration efforts across eastern and central Nebraska. Their mission and work blend conservation, community engagement, and a deep respect for the land to ensure that prairie ecosystems continue to thrive for generations to come.
How will a greenhouse benefit prairie restoration efforts?
While most of Prairie Plains’ restoration work comes from harvesting and planting seed from over 225 native plant species, seed sourcing for some of the uncommon species proves difficult and some species don’t establish well from seed at restored sites. That’s where a greenhouse allows Prairie Plains to employ different seed treatments and propagation methods needed for certain species to germinate and begin growing as plugs. Adding greenhouse grown plugs into restored sites helps increase plant diversity and provides for more specific conservation needs.
A great example of this are the native violet species that Prairie Plains grows that are crucial in restoring regal fritillary butterfly habitat. Regal fritillary caterpillars depend on violet species in native prairies as their sole source of food. This prairie-specialist butterfly is threatened and on the brink of being added to the endangered species list. There is a lot of interest in including native violet plugs at key prairie restoration sites adjacent to regal fritillary populations, as well as increasing violet populations within native prairies. This new greenhouse will allow Prairie Plains to meet these increasing demands and grow restoration and educational opportunities.
Amy mentioned that Prairie Plains’ new 30’x40’ Ceres greenhouse, with inline 30’x20’ headhouse, “will not only allow us to meet an increased demand for our seedling plugs, but will also give us space to try out some new things”. The new greenhouse will also act as an educational space for students, interns and conservation professionals to learn about prairie restoration techniques.
A noteworthy aspect of Prairie Plain’s new year-round passive solar greenhouse is the ETFE glazing material which will allow for up to 94% light transmission with UV penetration. The addition of ETFE material means that this insulative greenhouse will not only allow year-round growth, it will also produce higher quality seedling plugs. The Prairie Plains team is also thrilled that the new greenhouse will include automations for watering and temperature control, freeing up more time to spend on other important restoration, conservation and education tasks.
The plan is for the greenhouse to be finished by Spring 2026, which will give the team at Prairie Plains plenty of time to ready the space for plugs growing throughout the 2026 season. Stay tuned for more from this greenhouse project and visit the Prairie Plains Resource Institute website to learn more about prairie restoration and see how you can get involved.
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