Our Greenhouse Story
Built in Canada. Growing Year-Round in Canada.
Every Greenhouse in the Snow kit starts with Canadian steel, and is manufactured at our shop in Armstrong, BC. Here’s the story of how we got here, and why it matters to you and your greenhouse journey.
Hi, I’m Dale.
I’ve spent 25+ years in horticulture, and I have never seen anything quite like a Greenhouse in the Snow. I remember walking into our demonstration greenhouse during our first winter growing — citrus blooming, greens growing, something flowering in every corner — and thinking that every Canadian grower needs to know this is possible.
I felt so strongly about it, that in 2020, I brought the Greenhouse in the Snow design to Canada and we set up our manufacturing shop right here on our homestead in Armstrong, BC. I personally oversee every kit that goes out the door. I know exactly what’s going into your greenhouse because I’m the one who shapes every single greenhouse frame.
I’m passionate about food sovereignty for Canadians — about giving people the tools to grow their own food, in their own climate, on their own schedule, and a Greenhouse in the Snow is the first step, whether you’re wanting to feed your family or sustain a farmstand year-round. If you have questions about whether a greenhouse is right for your property, I’m more than happy to chat!
Hello!
I’m Chelsea, co-owner of Greenhouse in the Snow Canada. You’ve probably seen me gardening on our social media. Behind the scenes, I keep the office running all year long, garden, give tours and technical support to customers. With my business background and homesteading lifestyle, I’m passionate about bringing our year-round growing solutions to Canadians!
On our farm, our greenhouse has allowed us to expand our homestead’s holistic foods. When I’m not working, you’ll find me taking care of my animals, preserving food, and connecting with my neighbours and local community.
If self sufficiency is your goal, I’d love to talk about how a greenhouse can help you get there. info@greenhouseinthesnow.
About Greenhouse in the Snow
It started with an unlikely idea. In the 1980s, a retired Nebraska couple decided they wanted to grow oranges through a prairie winter. Rather than fight the cold with expensive heating systems, Russ Finch did something different. He worked with the earth beneath his feet, combining passive solar design with the stable warmth found below the frost line to create a greenhouse that stayed above freezing all winter at a fraction of the cost of conventional heating.
It worked. Growers across North America and around the world took notice, and in 2010 Russ began selling his design commercially. Today, close to 900 Greenhouse in the Snow structures are growing food year-round across North America and Europe.
In the spring of 2020, Dale secured the exclusive Canadian manufacturing rights and brought the Greenhouse in the Snow design home to Armstrong, BC. Every kit sold in Canada is manufactured right here at our shop, using galvanized Canadian steel and polycarbonate engineered specifically for Canada’s snow and wind loads. This is not a kit sourced overseas and repackaged. It is built by hand, in Canada, for Canadian growers and Canadian winters.
Our own demonstration greenhouse sits on our small regenerative farm in Armstrong, Zone 5b, and it runs 365 days a year. On any given day you will find citrus ripening, guava and passionfruit climbing, pomegranates swelling, and fresh herbs and hearty vegetables ready for the table. Farm to table at its absolute freshest, in the middle of a BC winter.
Whether you are a homesteader working toward food sovereignty, a family who wants fresh vegetables year-round, or a market grower looking to extend your season and your offerings, we have been doing exactly what you are hoping to do, every single day, for years. We know what works, what to watch for, and how to help you get there. That is the advantage of buying from the people who actually grow in one of these greenhouses themselves.
How We’re Different from Other Greenhouse Suppliers
We aren’t wholesalers who drop-ship from a warehouse. We hold the exclusive Canadian rights to this design, manufacture every kit by hand from Canadian steel in Armstrong, BC, and ship coast to coast. When you call, you’re talking to us – the people who literally build, package and ship your greenhouse!
Every greenhouse is tailored specifically for each customer. The length of the kit, the type of heating system, foundation, and finishes are all chosen together based on your property, your climate, and how you want to grow. No two Greenhouse in the Snow builds look exactly alike, and that’s intentional – we want to make sure it works for you and your four-season growing goals.
From your first conversation with us to your first harvest, we are truly there every step of the way. We will help you plan and design your greenhouse, support you through construction and installation, recommend trusted installers in many areas across Canada, and answer your seasonal planting and growing questions long after the build is done. This isn’t a ‘click and order’ online shopping experience; you’re purchasing a system built with care by two people who grow in their own greenhouse every single day. We bring our lived experience and expertise to every single customer relationship, to guarantee your success.