The One Fascinating Farm In Nebraska Where Oranges Grow In The Snow

If there are two universal truths about Nebraska farmers, they are these: they’re persistent and they’re creative. Our short, often harsh growing season means always rolling with the punches and trying to stay one step ahead of Mother Nature. One retiree in Alliance has outsmarted her entirely and used a novel concept to grow crops all year long – even crops that you would never imagine could thrive in Nebraska.

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Russ Finch, a retired mail carrier in Alliance, began experimenting with geothermal heat in the 1970s when he installed it in his own home. In the '90s he built a greenhouse attached to his house that also uses geothermal heating principles. Watch Finch in the video below explaining the idea and displaying his ample crops.



Geothermal heat taps into the planet's own internal temperature, and Finch's greenhouse setup uses that heat to create the ideal growing environment. The system works by directing the geothermal heat through a tubing system that runs underground beneath the greenhouse. The warm air circulates and recirculates, keeping the interior at a temperature that tropical plants can thrive in.

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This allows Finch to grow crops year-round, even when the temperature outside dips below zero and stays there for weeks and even when the snow outside is knee-high. Eliminating the environmental fluctuations of the outdoors means that crops which historically grow well in Nebraska can also produce in greater amounts inside the geothermal greenhouse. According to Finch, a tomato plant in his greenhouse produces 14 tomatoes for every one tomato grown outdoors.

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Given our temperamental climate and northern latitude, most of us would never attempt to grow full-size tropical citrus plants in Nebraska. But inside Finch's 78-foot-long greenhouse, hundreds of tropical plants - citrus and others - are vibrant and producing like crazy. Lemons, oranges, tangelos, mandarins, figs, and plenty of flowers enjoy the coziness inside even when the wind is howling outdoors.

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The cost to operate this geothermal environment is radically lower than the cost of operating a traditional greenhouse. Any other greenhouse could cost thousands of dollars through the winter months, but Finch's geothermal model only costs around $200 to operate all winter.

Watch the video below to see Finch describe the concept and results.

Russ Finch formed a company called Greenhouse In The Snow to sell the materials, equipment, and plans for his novel greenhouse setup. Gardeners, farmers, and horticulturalists from all over Nebraska and beyond have visited him to see the greenhouse in action, and they all leave highly impressed. Finch’s company has sold more than 50 greenhouse setups in the United States and Canada since 2013.

Tours of the Greenhouse In The Snow are available for those who are thinking of setting up their own geothermal greenhouse. Learn more about this fascinating concept, the equally fascinating man behind it, and the greenhouses themselves right here. Follow the same link to book a tour or to find answers to your questions about geothermal heating.