Rob's Geodesic Dome Greenhouse

[Rob Torcellini]

Hi Everyone! We're Expanding! We are pleased to announce that we have just received the necessary permits to build a new greenhouse. This 1200 square foot, state-of-the-art building will utilize some of our latest technology to enhance the building’s energy conservation, as well as monitor and control an aquaponics growing system. The greenhouse will be used for our research and development, and it will become the focal point of the farm as a visitor center. Construction is scheduled to start this spring and we are eagerly waiting for the ground to thaw.

This video is the first part of a series I'll produce over the next year or so. I hope you enjoy the adventure!

 

[Nate Storey]

It's coming along well Rob.  Looks good!

[Rob Torcellini]

I finally get to work on some of the more exciting things in the dome.  Automation!!!  I love being lazy!

[Jesse Hull]

Ha ha.  I've never found automation to make me lazy...

I'll still go into the garden and check, calibrate, just sit in there and tinker, etc.  

Most people who go the extra mile to build in automation aren't the types to sit back once things are automated.  Irony???

[Rob Torcellini]

LOL.  It just lets me spend time on other projects....like MORE automation!

[Rob Torcellini]

Time to add to my laziness and add some more automation.  I no longer have to feed the fish a few times a day...however I still like to just stand there an watch them.  What is it about them that's so memorizing???

[Meg Stout]

Super cool!

[Steve Perreault]

That is one serious looking fish tank/automatic feeder setup for a non-commercial GH. I'm surprised you didn't do a shot of all the happy fish. I'll bet they were smiling big time and giving you the fins up sign though the tank window! 

[Rob Torcellini]

They got used to me feeding them and every time I walked in, they would start swarming around the tank windows.  I guess the new metal box will become their new best friend. 

[Rob Torcellini]

While I was filming my latest video, this butterfly landed on my hand.  In the past, I’ve received several questions about why I don’t put screens on the greenhouse vents…this is why!

 

(Sorry it’s blurry, this is a screen grab from the video and the camera wasn’t focused for the close up shot!)

[Nate Storey]

watch out!  you'll  have a caterpillar problem in about 2 weeks. . .   :)

Rob Torcellini said:

While I was filming my latest video, this butterfly landed on my hand.  In the past, I’ve received several questions about why I don’t put screens on the greenhouse vents…this is why!

 

(Sorry it’s blurry, this is a screen grab from the video and the camera wasn’t focused for the close up shot!)

[Rob Torcellini]

...or a bunch of extra fish food after that! 

Nate Storey said:

watch out!  you'll  have a caterpillar problem in about 2 weeks. . .  

Rob Torcellini said:

While I was filming my latest video, this butterfly landed on my hand.  In the past, I’ve received several questions about why I don’t put screens on the greenhouse vents…this is why!

 

(Sorry it’s blurry, this is a screen grab from the video and the camera wasn’t focused for the close up shot!)

[Rob Torcellini]

Here is the first of three videos on how the aquaponic system is assembled in the geodesic dome.  This first video recaps some of the installation that was done during the dome construction and shows a general overview of how the entire system operates.