Underground geodesic dome greenhouse

We have started to gather the supplies to build a geodesic dome greenhouse out of conduit and polycarbonate panels. We live in a very dry climate where the winters freeze. We've been trying to figure out the best passive heating and really like the idea of an underground greenhouse. Has anyone ever sunken a geodesic dome greenhouse 6-8 feet? Or have any reason why this wouldn't work?

Welcome to Permies, Megan!

Have you done any research on what's called a "walipini"? Here's an over-view - https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/essential-tips-for-building-a-durable-walipini-greenhouse-zbcz1706

And a thread here on permies:
https://permies.com/t/120406/Walipini-underground-greenhouse-geothermal-greenhouse

A little more info would be ideal - it doesn't make sense to me to "bury" a geodesic dome, but I could see you burying what I would call a circular "knee-wall" which could be quite deep, and then putting a dome overtop as the roof.  I'm not sure how useful that design would be, but so much depends on climate and location. Most buried greenhouses have a flat roof at an angle facing the sun exposure that is determined to be ideal for the location.

I *absolutely* think that using the earth to help moderate temperatures is really beneficial in most greenhouse situations but the best way to incorporate thermal mass into your design takes thought and maybe experimentation.  They're currently building one at Wheaton Labs, but I seem to have lost that link.

Other links worth reading:
https://permies.com/t/2098/greenhouse-suck-factor
https://permies.com/wiki/143395/Chinese-Greenhouse-Dan-Chiras

Yes as mentioned before search for the following terms with a good search engine, I use startpage myself.

walipini

pit garden

wafoti

citris in the snow

earth tubes

earth ships

thermal mass greenhouse

chinese greenhouse

Look for these terms should provide many ideas....    


If you are going underground some things you will need to consider...

Drainage.      have  a place for the water to go...    You don't want to build a swimming pool.

Ventilation    Mold loves dark wet places,   keeping the air moving is a good thing.

Don't re-invent the wheel...      Many people have already made the mistakes and now have working systems  find, a system you like, get plans and duplicate.


My .2 cents.  

But digging a bit deeper...

Looks like someone has cut a trail thru the jungle you are considering...


https://www.burrowbureau.com/underground-dome-homes.htm

 

Thank you so much for responding!

I have researched wallipini,  which is where I got the idea of going underground. I have a neighbor who built one and it was caved in by elk. Obviously there are many things they could have done to avoid this, but I was thinking a dome is so structurally sound and that is what we would love to build. We have a neighbor who has a dome greenhouse (above ground) and it produces well.

We want to go down for temperature control. The only thing I could find for wallipini is in the definition, "rectangular" which is why I wasn't sure the dome would work. We are at 7500 feet and super dry but we get snow and cold temperatures during the winter and our sun is brutal during the summer. That is why I wanted to go underground, so we wouldn't have to heat during the winter and the sun wouldn't scorch during the summer. I want the shape of the dome so we can do a few dwarf fruit trees. I wasn't sure if the shape would enable the area to get enough sun, as the wallipini has the long rectangular side south facing.

Not sure if that's enough extra information but that was what we were thinking. I couldn't find anyone digging down for a greenhouse dome so that's why I thought I would try asking here. 😀

Thank you so much! A Chinese greenhouse is new to me, and so are a few of the other things you mentioned. Thanks for the ideas, I'll get on this research and see what I can come up with!

Megan Igo wrote: A Chinese greenhouse is new to me,

The last link in my first post has a book review I did of Dan Chiras' book which I read cover to cover and there's a *lot* of good info in it. I got my copy from our local library, so you may not have to buy it to test drive it! I didn't know what research you'd already done, but I really hope you come up with a plan that works as food security is going to be really important this year with all the crazy weather on the west coast.

There are quite a lot of domes used as living spaces that are only partially glazed, while greenhouse domes often seem to be fully glazed. However, there's nothing to stop you glazing only the side facing the sun.
Quite a few of the passive solar greenhouse designs incorporate glazing and roof angles that maximize winter sunlight, and at the same time, summertime roof shading and the glazing reflecting sunlight (rather than transmitting) , with non-glazed walls/roof being well insulated or buried .
One might be able to achieve this by selective glazing of the dome, or by a seasonal shade cloth or curtain.

Bigelow Brook Farm has videos of his dome project: YouTube playlist
His dome is not completely glazed, and is not buried. Although one could imagine how it could be... if the foundation wasn't backfilled to bury earth tubes.

Thank you for the idea of looking into the glazing, I hadn't thought of playing around with that! 😀

Jay Angler wrote:

Megan Igo wrote: A Chinese greenhouse is new to me,

The last link in my first post has a book review I did of Dan Chiras' book which I read cover to cover and there's a *lot* of good info in it. I got my copy from our local library, so you may not have to buy it to test drive it! I didn't know what research you'd already done, but I really hope you come up with a plan that works as food security is going to be really important this year with all the crazy weather on the west coast.

Thank you, I will get this book.  Yes, we just moved to a rural location and are quickly trying to get something good, but quick, set up. Thanks again!

Hi, there is one built in Ukraine. It covered with double layered film, has 9m diameter and submerged by 1.5m. It also has underground heat recuperation, some  subtropical trees and a chillout zone