Greenhouse in the Snow Canada - Go Geothermal
info@greenhouseinthesnow.ca • 1.888.378.3159 • English • Français
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OVERVIEW
Highly Efficient Greenhouses

We manufacture geothermal heated ‘Greenhouse in the Snow’ Kits that You can construct. Enjoy the magic of gardening, fresh veggies and tropical fruits, YEAR ROUND!!

A solution for year-round agricultural production, these structures utilize the earth’s heat and moderating power, creating an environment equivalent to USDA growing zone 10.

By tapping into low-grade geothermal energy, the system reduces reliance on fossil fuels. Geothermal greenhouses are revolutionizing farming practices, promoting sustainability and enhancing food security in Canada.

Greenhouse in the Snow Canada - Manufactured in Canada
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Lemons at Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Outside at Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.
Greenhouse In The Snow Canada Inc.

SUSTAINABILITY IN ITS FINEST FORM

Feel pride & take pleasure in your beautiful garden all year round’!

Here are just a few examples of what we grow in our Greenhouse in the Snow (Armstrong BC Zone 5b): Lemons, Oranges, Watermelon, Figs, Kale, Lettuce, Hibiscus, Roses, Peas, Beans, Rosemary, Ginger, Basil, Passionfruit, Peppers, and many more!

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GREENHOUSE KIT PRICING
Affordability for the Planet

Geothermal Greenhouse Assembly Kits are 17’ wide and range from 60 to 144 feet in Length

Greenhouse Kits Include:

  • Z2" Steel Frames
  • Z8mm Twin Wall Polycarbonate
  • ZScrews & Washers
  • ZDetailed Instructions
  • ZCustomer Support
  • ZAdditional Materials List

Current pricing starts at $299 per linear foot.

Get a price list in a few minutes! Please fill in and submit the form. We are notified by email as soon as you send it! (leave a comment and we will get back to you shortly)

Or call us at: 1.888.378.3159

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Endless Possibilites • Exotic Fruits & Plants • Efficient • Geothermal • Low Operating Costs • Special & Unique

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ABOUT THE COMPANY
Greenhouse in the Snow Canada

Russ Finch is the creator and designer of the Greenhouse in the Snow concept. After his retirement from the Post Office, he wanted to build an efficient greenhouse that was both economical and ecological in its design to keep the temperatures above zero during the harsh Nebraskan winters. Russ’s greenhouse is attached to the back of his house, and it is truly magnificent. Over a period of 35 years, Russ perfected his greenhouse design using low-grade geothermal in order to produce citrus, fruits, vegetables, and many flowers all year round. In his greenhouse, he currently has hundreds of plants, from which he harvests 1000’s of pounds of produce each year!

Over the past 9 years, the greenhouse package has been sold commercially. There are now close to 850 of the greenhouses in production across the USA, Canada, and Europe. In the spring of 2020, it was licensed in Canada and is now being manufactured in Vernon BC and distributed across the country. Our greenhouses are built to the specifications that Russ Finch designed, and we will provide many Canadians with the opportunity to garden year-round, grow exotic crops, and produce more food using less energy.

In 2020 Dale & Chelsea licensed the rights to manufacturing Greenhouse in the Snow in Canada. Since then, they have installed a Greenhouse in the Snow greenhouse on their small regenerative farm homestead in the farming community of Armstrong BC, USDA zone 5b. They have been growing, continually planting, and harvesting from the greenhouse every day of the year.

PHOTO CREDIT: MK Photography

Greenhouse in the Snow Canada
with Kirsten Dirken & Russ Finch

Greenhouse in the Snow Canada • Tour
with Russ Finch & Allen

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BOOK A PERSONAL TOUR
Experience the lustre in real-life!

In Person
Video Call

Our Greenhouse in the Snow is located in Armstrong, British Columbia.

Nothing compares to seeing the wonder of sustainable living in real life. We would love to share the experience with you! Select ‘In Person ‘ or ‘Video Call‘ to schedule your personal tour.

Prefer to talk in person? Call us at: 1.888.378.3159

What’s so unique about Greenhouse in the Snow Canada?

Low input costs to grow throughout the winter. Heated with passive solar and low-grade geothermal heat, the design is able to maintain growing temperatures above freezing in most of Canada. Keeping the temperatures above freezing increases our growing zone to a USDA zone 10b, increasing the variety of plants we can grow.

~ Interview with Zest Farms

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THINGS TO CONSIDER
Be mindful of all factors 

1) Placement of Your Greenhouse
  • Find a level sunny south-facing area (for the length of the greenhouse)
  • Watch the sunlight hours in the winter months at your desired location
  • Space required for greenhouse and geothermal system – minimum 1/4 acre
  • Water table at desired greenhouse location below 10ft.
  • Soil Condition at desired greenhouse location.
2) Permitting
  • Check your local district if a building permit is required.
  • Engineered greenhouse drawing is available for building permit applications. (fee applies)
3) Foundation Options
  • Piers – Concrete
    – Auger holes with a sono tube and place a ground stake
  • Insulated Concrete Form – ICF
    – Great for extra insulation in areas where the frost line is typically deep
  • Concrete Foundation Wall
  • Screw Piles
4) Additional Materials

The greenhouse kit comes with all the steel framing requirements and polycarbonate. There are items that we do not include in the kit as these items are bulky and most cost-efficient for the customer to purchase locally. This detailed list will be provided to you with your greenhouse kit.

5) Payment
  • Greenhouse in the Snow Canada Inc. requires a 50% deposit to secure order placement and pricing.
  • If an engineered drawing is needed Greenhouse in the Snow Canada Inc. will require a 50% deposit plus engineering fees.
  • Final payment and shipping are required before the greenhouse kit is shipped from our manufacturing shop.

Payment Methods:
Bank wire transfer
E-transfer
Credit Card (3% processing fee)

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You ask and we’ll answer!

1) What can you grow in a geothermal greenhouse?

Perhaps the easier question is: what do you want to grow? Visitors to the original greenhouse in Alliance Nebraska are always impressed by the citrus, especially the heavily laden Meyers Lemon trees in the middle of winter. Our many customers grow a wide variety including common garden vegetables, beans, peas, kale, swiss chard, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, melons, oranges, limes, passionfruit, figs, asparagus, strawberries, southern grapes, kiwis, roses, orchids, and other exotic flowers.

2) How many crops can you grow?
It depends on how many days to maturity of what you are growing. 2,3,4 crop rotations a year maybe even more. The greenhouse increases your local USDA zone to Zone 10b, similar to many areas of California and Florida.
3) What temperatures can a geothermal greenhouse operate in?
The greenhouse design is very efficient in holding heat and maintaining temperature. The greenhouse can be used in zones 3b (-34C to -37C) with success. A backup heat system is recommended, set to come on at 2C.
4) What is suggested for a backup heating system?
There are a variety of options, depending on what makes the most sense for your location. Natural gas/propane shop heaters, small vented diesel heaters that run on 12V, or electric heat. All these should be set with a thermostat to come on at +2C min.
5) What plants can we grow in a geothermal greenhouse?
Any plants that can handle temperatures down to +2C. Some customers maintain a higher temperature in their greenhouse to be able to grow even more tropical varieties.
6) Can you do aquaponics in a geothermal greenhouse?

Yes. We have several customers that have ponds and tanks in their greenhouses. Some are focused on fish, such as tilapia or trout, and use the water to grow produce. Water in a pond is a great way to store heat from the daytime that is released at night. Most people who are raising warm water fish like tilapia will supplementally heat the water.

7) Can you use hydroponic growing techniques in the greenhouse?

Yes, hydroponics is another option to grow your fruits and vegetables. Some customers have hydroponic systems and the new (2023) greenhouse in Alliance Nebraska will be using a variety of hydroponic systems.

8) Can I build a geothermal greenhouse where there is a high-water table?
The short answer is yes. There are extra considerations when building in an area with a high-water table. Please speak with us if you are considering building in an area like this.
9) Can a geothermal greenhouse function off grid?

Yes. The big advantage of this geothermal concept is that it uses low amounts of electricity to run the heating and cooling system.

10) What should I expect to spend on a geothermal greenhouse?

Current prices can be obtained under the website Pricing tab, but generally speaking, you should expect a Greenhouse in the Snow completed cost to be similar to a traditional permanent greenhouse that uses supplemental heat as its only heat source.

The BIG difference is the energy cost for a geothermal greenhouse versus the traditional one. Operational costs of the Greenhouse in the Snow are much, much lower!!

11) Are geothermal greenhouses environmentally friendly?

Yes, very much so. The steel we use in our geothermal greenhouses has a high recycled content. The polycarbonate sheets are very durable and last many years and the power consumption to keep the greenhouse frost-free is kept to a minimum. Many of our greenhouse owners use little or no commercial pesticides in their operations, preferring to grow organically.

12) Can I put my Greenhouse in the Snow up myself?

Yes, many of our customers do. Be sure to abide by all local regulations. Some of our customers have all of the necessary equipment, but most will hire a local contractor to excavate the 8 to 10-foot-deep trench for the heat tubes and the 3-foot-deep floor for the greenhouse. We also recommend an electrician for the electrical installation, and a plumber for the water service.

13) Can I heat a traditional greenhouse using the geothermal heat tubes?
Generally speaking, no. The radiant heat loss in a conventional greenhouse is simply too great for the low grade geo-thermal to overcome.
14) Is there a climate too cold for a geothermal greenhouse?
We have geothermal greenhouses in most provinces of Canada. The original greenhouse in western Nebraska is a USDA zone 4b (-29C to -32C) area, but being almost 4,000 feet above sea level, they can be plagued with harsh winds and very cold winter temperatures. Actual temperatures of 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit below zero (-29C to -35C) are seen in most winters. On occasion, they will get from 35-45 degrees Fahrenheit below zero (-37C to -43C).
15) I don't have much building experience. Will I be able to construct my geothermal greenhouse kit?
Many of our customers construct their own greenhouses. A few have opted to have them professionally built. Most customers with relatively limited building experience have been able to find a friend or a neighbor to help them through the process but it is important to note that we are available to answer your questions.

We do supply a manual on how to build the greenhouse in a step-by-step way. This should answer most of your questions. Our phone and email technical support is free to anyone who has purchased a greenhouse kit from Greenhouse in the Snow.

16) What size greenhouse do I need?
From an efficiency standpoint, in terms of energy and money, a 96ft/ 102ft greenhouse seems to be the optimum size. Shorter greenhouses still require the buried geothermal tubes to be the same length, with fewer tubes because of the smaller size but the same length of excavation. This makes the shorter greenhouses cost more per square foot to build.
17) What is the cost of a greenhouse kit?
We sell our kits by the lineal foot, current pricing is $299 per ft, and greenhouse lengths from 60ft to 140ft
18) Will banks lend on a geothermal greenhouse?
Some will, although this is out of our area of expertise. We accept credit cards and bank transfers for greenhouse kit payments. If financing is of interest to you please contact us.
19) Do you ship greenhouse kits?

Yes, we ship our kits across Canada, coast to coast. It does require a forklift or some other method to unload the kit at your site. They can be picked up in person also at our shop in BC. Be sure to check with us for the needed trailer size and type.

20) Are the greenhouse kits made in Canada?

Yes, they are manufactured in Vernon BC for Canada. We use Canadian steel milled to our specifications. The polycarbonate is also a Canadian product. We take pride in supporting Canadian businesses when sourcing all our materials!

21) How many geothermal greenhouse kits have you sold?

As of December 2023, there are about 850 greenhouses located in the U.S.A., Europe, and Canada. This number is changing rapidly.

22) Does the geothermal greenhouse concept fit with our desire to produce our own food throughout the year?

Yes because of the frost-free conditions in winter, it is ideal to have a year-round production of fruits and vegetables. You can grow multiple crops of the same vegetable throughout the year. We plant seeds continuously in our demonstration greenhouse in Armstrong BC.

23) Do you have issues with pollinating crops?

Not generally. It all depends on what you are growing and what is needed to pollinate the crops. Citrus for example is self-fertile while tomatoes and peppers wind or shake pollinate. If you like, add a mason bee colony to your greenhouse.

24) More Questions?

Contact us today.

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