Northern Greenhouse Design
What geographic and climate conditions should be considered when designing a greenhouse for the north? How can a greenhouse in the north be more energy efficient? Which energy saving features are worth the investment (in time or money)? Bob and Simone will lead the discussion while taking you on a tour of the 4 Season Experimental greenhouse, built by students in 2011; the senior's greenhouse, retrofitted in 2012; and a collection of personal greenhouses where some of these features have been tested.
Bob Sharp
Bob has been involved for more than 45 years in a wide variety of educational activities that include, principal, superintendent, curriculum coordinator and experiential teacher with public schools, 11 years with Yukon College teaching courses in YNTEP, and six years teaching a Northern greenhouse design for the Yukon Department of Agriculture. Bob has been conducting a wide variety of experiments related to extending the northern growing season at modest cost over the past 35 years on his small farm outside Whitehorse. His innovative greenhouse designs have been the focus of the greenhouse design course.
Simone Rudge
Simone has instructed math and science courses at Yukon College since the late 80’s. In 2000, her family moved to a remote plot of land outside of Whitehorse. In 2004, they acquired organic certification on the production of forage crops, vegetables, and chickens. Last year, Simone was able to combine her passion for food with her background in teaching math and science in an innovative style of programming offered at Yukon College in a northern greenhouse project. The Greenhouse Project involved two semesters of Skills for Employment Programs. The first semester, she and a group of students built a year-round, solar greenhouse, and the second semester engaged the students in growing vegetables during the winter in the greenhouse and inside the classroom.
