The Wallace Farm in Orient, named for the prominent family that produced a U.S. vice president and two generations of agriculture secretaries, is following its legacy of agricultural innovation with a new geothermal greenhouse.
The sturdy, storm-resistant structure relies on geothermal energy, a sustainable and cost-effective way to support year-round growing. Perforated tiles sit about 12 feet below the greenhouse. Fans push indoor air through underground tubes, where the earth’s steady temperature naturally warms it in winter and cools it in summer before sending it back inside.
The greenhouse produce is prepared for on-site events, preserved or donated to local food pantries. At press time the greenhouse was growing marigolds, cherry tomatoes, onions, chiles, Swiss chard, figs, and even lemons and limes.
