Shumei Natural Agriculture Garden at Rodale Institute

The Rodale Institute’s Shumei Natural Agriculture demonstration garden, described in a story about its August 2009 dedication, features the following items:

Dome greenhouse

This 22-foot radius geodesic dome contains: an above-ground storage tank; sun-powered photo-voltaic panels to provide all electricity for circulating air and water; 375 masonry pavers as solar mass to absorb, hold and radiate heat as the dome’s internal air cools); and sub-surface ventilation tubing for heat transfer.

Winter greens for eating, spring transplant production and summer growing space make the dome an energy-neutral, year-round supplementary food source for a family of four. A 400 gallon tank provides thermal mass, and a potential aquaculture site. The entrance door, as well as four vents—two in the ceiling, two on the sides—provide natural cooling. The vents open and close automatically without electricity by using the expansive properties of a special wax, tension springs and gravity.

The solar-powered fan runs when needed to optimize the dome’s air temperature, helping to synchronize heat-storage capacity with what plants need to survive. Insulation in the walls and on the earth surface surrounding the walls also conserves collected heat.

Green roof

Using a low-growing and maintenance-free sedum cover, this living system is carefully designed to outlast a typical roof, while slowing runoff from severe rainfall. It also provides a cooling effect to the building—and the surrounding air—in summer. In-ground drainage moves excess rainwater from the roof and around the building to a rain garden, which will slow outflow into a nearby creek.

The green roof and green building it protects were designed by William Heasom, P.E., president of Down to Earth Design Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on engineering for regeneration. View a slide show prepared at the completion of the green roof in spring 2009, and augmented with photos showing the roof at present (July 2009).  

Green building

Part of the demonstration aspect of the project, this 12- by 24-foot building will be used for washing and packing vegetables, seed drying and storage, meetings and enjoying the garden view during inclement weather.

Veranda

Attached to the Green Building, the veranda will overlook a small garden pond immediately under it, and afford views of the Shumei garden and the north portion of the Institute farmscape.

Root cellar

Located beneath the veranda, the root cellar will be designed for autumn and winter storage of root crops (such as beets, carrots, potatoes) and winter squash to extend their use without refrigeration.

Pond

This small water feature will be linked with a rain garden just to the east of the Green Building, a roof runoff capture system and site drainage to optimize water utilization, provide good drainage of soils and minimization of runoff.

Gazebo

This open-sided hexagonal structure affords shade in the midst of the growing area, a place to rest and reflect in the midst of vegetation and horticultural activity. This will serve as the information center for the Shumei garden where visitors can pick up printed materials to help interpret their experience.

Wheat field

Grains for milling, sprouting and other uses will be grown on plot of about 1,100 square feet adjacent to the Green Building.

Fruit trees and berries

To build in biodiversity, beneficial habitat, crop diversity and the overall resilience contributed by perennial plantings, the garden will soon include fruit trees and berries in this area.

Composting zone

A standard feature of all Rodale Institute demonstration gardens, the compost pile will allow for recycling of spent plants, trimmings and other biomass into rich humus for use as mulch in the Natural Agriculture system.

Children’s entrance

Sized appropriately, this structure welcomes younger gardeners to explore the beds and paths.

Children’s garden

Designed for hands-on learning, this part of the garden features kid-sized beds, a wooden bean teepee and a multi-sensory mix of vegetables, flowers and herbs.

Main entrance

The break in the bamboo border fence invites visitors to enter via a wide pathway, with the children’s garden to the left.

Pathways

About 30 percent of the growing area is dedicated to access routes. Local flagstone provides a hard surface for persons with walking challenges or in wheelchairs. They are wide enough to easily accommodate garden carts. Walkways between beds are much narrower, and will sometimes be covered with playground-style wood mulch.

Border fence and beds

Large-diameter bamboo log sections form an elegant fence around the west edge and southwest corner of the Shumei garden. On the interior, a bed will run along the fence with vines and some perennial crops. For details on the garden and the fence materials, see Balance, beauty, respect, simplicity

Growing area

Vegetables, herbs, flowers and rejuvenating cover crops will grow on about 1,700 square feet, out of a total of about 3800 square feet for all structures and auxiliary elements, such as a wheat patch and composting area. Members of the same plant families will be grown in different areas to minimize pest impact.