Bringing Nature’s Wonders Inside: Building an Educational

Bioshelter at Community Harvest Project

Claire Weston CHP Intern 2015

What is a Bioshelter?• A well insulated

structure that utilizes solar radiation and other heat collection and transfer methods in order to function as a sustainable contained ecosystem with the potential for year-long produce production.

What Makes Bioshelters Different from Greenhouses? • Bioshelters utilize other forms of

heat transfer and collection in addition to the standard use of solar radiation.• Heat generated by compost • Heat generated by Jean Pain mounds• Geothermal heating• Heat sinks and climate batteries

• Potential for aquaponics• Solar heat and energy

• Solar heating and cooling (SHC)• Photovoltaic (PV)

• Chickens • Metabolic heat production

• Additionally, it is essential that bioshelters be well insulated.

Successful Bioshelters

The Cape Cod Ark• 1826 sq. ft. greenhouse space, 91 feet

long, 17-30 feet wide, 30 feet high at center peak

• Heated by solar radiation, radiant floor heating, and heat sinks

Three Sisters Farm• Year-round organic garden, compost

facility, chicken house• Heated by solar radiation, firewood heat,

Jean Pain composting, and chickens

What could a bioshelter mean for CHP?1. A new building to provide educational opportunities2. A longer growing season3. Increased diversity of produce grown• Fruits and vegetables from warmer climates

Educational Opportunities• Healthy eating cooking classes

• Produce provided by bioshelter• Would need an industrial kitchen

• Learn how to plant and maintain a garden before spring starts• The bioshelter as a field trip destination

• Price per student: ≈ $7.00

Subject Areas• Lessons on:

• Nutrition• What goes into producing a vegetable? What makes it healthy?• “Name that vegetable/fruit”

• Nutrient cycling• Nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, water cycle• Tie to composting

• Heat transfer• Convection and conduction

• Water cycle• Water properties What makes water unique?

• Soil chemistry• The importance of nitrogen and phosphorous • Tie to composting

• Sustainable design• How does the bioshelter function as a sustainable internal ecosystem?• Ecosystem dynamics

Lesson Examples• Soil Chemistry and Composition

• “Space Travelers” –Grades 2-5• Focuses on soil composition and the processes that go into making soil.• Best to do comparison between soil outside and soil inside bioshelter. What are the differences

and what are the similarities?• “Soil Doctors” –Grades 3-6

• Lesson focuses on minerals needed for plant health.• Use soil test kit to determine levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium• Keep a record over time and compare nutrient levels in soil outside.

• Cycles and Changes• “The Power of the Circle” –Grades 2-6

• Introduce nutrient cycle, oxygen cycle, and water cycle and how these cycles pertain to bioshelter design and plant health.

• “Roundabout” –Grades 2-6• Observe, describe, and illustrate the water cycle.• Use the bioshelter as a giant terrarium.

Season Extension and Yield Increase• What could we grow year round?

• Greens• Kale, collards, chard

• Root vegetables• Beets, carrots, potatoes

• Tomatoes• Herbs• Tropical plants

• Fig, avocado, papaya• How much space would it take?

• I’m still working on this but we could be very flexible in the design and how we utilize space based on what we want to accomplish.

• Season extension• Starting seedlings earlier• Expansion of the learning garden or new

location

Increase Produce Diversity• What we grow now:• Apples, beets, beans, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage (red and

green), cantaloupe, carrots, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, onions, peppers (Bell and Cubanelle), potatoes, radishes, summer squash, tomatoes (including cherry), winter squash (Butternut, Acorn, and Kabocha), and zucchini.

• What we could grow in addition during the warm summer months:• Avacado, lemons, oranges, figs, papaya, watercress

Construction• South facing glazing for

solar radiation• Polycarbonate for the

highest R-value• Well-insulated north facing

wall• Partially subterranean? • Wood beam construction• Cinderblock raised beds• Wooden beds on upper

levels• Hanging plants• Large barrels of water to

act as thermal masses• Drip feed irrigation system.

Expenses • Defined by the WPI

2012 report.

But wait!!There are A LOT of potential grants available.

Grants• Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

• Farm to school grants program• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf-grants-fns5-content.html

• Agriculture and Food and Research Initiative (AFRI) – Agricultural Economics and Rural Communities. • http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nifa2_content.html

• Community Food Projects (CFP)• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nifa4_content.html

• Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives Program (FINI)• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nifa7_content.html

• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nifa6_content.html • http://www.sare.org/Grants/Grants-Information

• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nrcs1_content.html

• Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) (No monetary award, just guidance. Might be helpful)• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nrcs2_content.html

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nrcs3_content.html

• Community Facilities (CF)• http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_rd4_content.html

Grants Continued• “seed” grants

• http://www.ncrg.org/research-center/apply-ncrg-funding/seed-grants• Possible? Mainly research based.

• General Agricultural Grant Information• http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/funding.shtml

• Small farm funding resources • http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/small_farm_funding.htm#FPA

• USDA rural development main site• http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Energy.html

• Grants for days!!!!!• http://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/grassrootsguide/farm-bill-programs-and-grants

• Massachusetts department of agriculture for renewable energy and energy efficient projects• Agricultural Energy Grant Program (Ag-Energy) (sounds a little complicated)

• http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/agr/about/divisions/ag-energy.html

Resources and Potential Contacts

• Earle Barnhart and Hilde Maingay• Owners of the Cape Cod

Ark bioshelter

• Dr. Owen Geiger, Ph.D• Ph.D in social and

economic development.

• He is an author and engineer specializing in sustainable building.

• The Three Sisters Farm• “We have over three

decades of design experience in assisting our clients to create beautiful and ecologically sounds homes, landscapes, businesses, and communities.”

Resources and Potential Contacts

• Andy Pressman• Agriculture Specialist for the

National Center for Appropriate Technology

• Small Plot Intensive (SPIN) farming specialist

• Robert Hersh• WPI Professor of

interdisciplinary and global studies

• Director of Sustainable Food Systems Project Center

Moving Forward• Appeal to the Board of Directors• Visit existing bioshelters and learn from these potential contacts• Delve further into potential grants and fundraising possibilities

Questions?

Notable videos to watchThis Ted talk outlines why I am so passionate about sustainable alternatives to mass agriculture. It is definitely worth checking out.• https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_foley_the_other_inconveni

ent_truth

This short clip highlights the Cape Cod Ark and is an excellent example of what a bioshelter can do.• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzMUhmkI96o