Presented here, with Chris Marron's permission, is his Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System (PHGS); reviewed, generally researched, and edited by Mark Hoffman. Mark is a Stelle area engineer and permaculturist who concludes that this is a very plausible system for year round food production.
Offered to the Public
Chris is allowing us to publish this body of information to insure public access to his work. He professes that little of this design is his original work for all he has done is researched others work and as he says "put two & two together". But no one we know of has taken all the different component he has laid out in his system and put them together into one design. Chris's motivation in sharing all this is to do his part to support the emerging desire of people to find and live in truly meaningful and sustainable communities.
On The Ground
This is a recent body of work that Chris has put together and as of this time, neither he nor anyone else we know of has actually built and operated this greenhouse system or tested its production possibilities. The door is open for every and anyone to experiment with building a PHG System. Chris is interested and available to assist others who are serious about building and operating a 'Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System'. He is frequently on the move, traveling and consulting, so can be reached through Midwest Permaculture. Click here to email Chris.
Financially Exciting
Also included are some financial projections for an operating greenhouse under this design. Although they are just estimates, they are very encouraging numbers for they answer the need for finding more sustainable ways of economically supporting our small scale farmers and growers. This system can also be use in suburban and city environments providing nutritious food, income and greater food security for local residents.
Food Security
If this system is capable of producing year-round-healthy food, it would bring the possibility of economic stability and true-food security to any region. The system would also be sustainable in the long run since it is estimated to use only a fraction of the energy of conventional greenhouses. As fossil fuel prices continue to rise, traditional green housing operations will become unprofitable.
Be a Part of Building This Greenhouse
Midwest Permaculture is going to build a test greenhouse when the interested people and resources arrive. I would invite all who are reading these words who feel the inner pull to see this greenhouse built to contact me. I will network people, resources, locations and markets to each other and facilitate the building of a fully operational greenhouse.
Chris and I also encourage other individuals and groups to pool their talent and resources and seriously consider building one of these fascinating greenhouses. Many different individuals and organizations should be testing the Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System in an attempt to find the processes and methods that work the best. In all likelihood, those of us who pursue this method of food production will create something that will not only benefit ourselves, but will server the greater community and future generations as well.
Chris Marron is available for consultation and even project support, as time and funds allow.
