Property: A 160-acre homestead in British Columbia
Client: Dave
A Vision for Year-Round Abundance, Against the Odds
Dave is a data-driven entrepreneur living just south of Kamloops, B.C. One day he was struck with the realization that he and his family were eating “3,000-mile salads.” In other words, meals where key ingredients are grown far away, in places like California.
This form of consumption not only negatively impacts food taste, freshness, and nutrition—it also leaves one vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
Dave therefore set his sights on growing his own food. However, his property is located in a valley on exposed ranch land prone to early and late frosts—with strong winds that make outdoor growing difficult. Like many rural homes, it also faced water supply issues: His well produced less than one gallon per minute of very hard water.
The challenge was clear: How to create a climate-resilient system that could produce regenerative, nutrient-dense food year-round?
The answer: Greenhouses.
Dave spoke to builders, as well as horticultural experts at a university, and explored no less than four different greenhouse models. But none fully addressed his land’s particular challenges, nor met his vision of self-sufficiency for himself and his family. That is, until he found a video by Rob Avis, Chief Engineering Officer at 5th World.
Rob’s explanation of his passive solar greenhouse design stood out: A greenhouse engineered not just to grow food, but to transform one’s way of life and well-being.
Watch this video to learn more:
Two Regenerative Greenhouses
5th World designed and built two distinct passive solar greenhouses, each serving a different purpose:
The Birchwood Greenhouse
- Large, multifunctional annual crop greenhouse
- Grows warm-season vegetables and fruits all year
- Integrated with a commercial kitchen, dry goods pantry, meat-aging room, and ventilated root cellar
- Functions as both a food-production space and a processing/storage hub
The Aspen Greenhouse
- Smaller, specialized house for tropical crops: Bananas, avocados, citrus, figs, ginger
- Includes a seedling room, ensuring year-round planting and resilience in crop succession
Water and Energy Supporting the Greenhouses
The greenhouses couldn’t succeed without reliable water. Therefore, 5th World implemented watershed harvesting systems—including swales, ponds, and a one-million-gallon reservoir—designed to contribute to the greenhouse irrigation systems.
By connecting storage tanks, pipelines, and hydrants, Dave’s greenhouses now have an abundant, gravity-fed water supply, independent of his weak well.
By using orientation, thermal mass, and insulation strategies, 5th World’s passive solar greenhouses cut energy use by 80 to 90% compared to traditional models—while ensuring stable temperatures.
For Dave, this means less fossil fuel dependance, reliable production, low operating costs, and freedom from fragile supply chains.
Learn about 5th World’s innovative greenhouse technology in this whitepaper.
More Than Food: A Space for Well-Being
Dave’s greenhouses aren’t just places to grow food—they’ve become sanctuaries.
“Right now, I’m buying classical guitars so I can make sure there’s always one handy in the greenhouse,” said Dave. “I can’t wait to take my breaks sitting on a nice little chair, and playing a song for the plants.”
He continued:
“The greenhouse is a turning point that’s opening up a new chapter in my life journey. It started as a practical pursuit and has evolved into the basis of how I spend time with my family and the discovery of my life’s calling: To learn more about regeneration and share its endless possibilities with others.”
This is a key benefit of 5th World greenhouses: They double as leisure spaces. Imagine stepping into a warm, lush environment in the middle of a Canadian winter—not just to harvest bananas and tomatoes, but to restore your spirit.
Take a virtual tour of Dave’s kitchen and passive solar greenhouse!
Why Choose a 5th World Passive Solar Greenhouse?
- Energy efficiency: Significantly less energy usage than conventional models
- All-season production: Grow food year-round, including tropical crops in cold climates
- Resilience: Designed for frost, wind, drought, and fire-prone environments
- Integrated systems: Water harvesting and storage tailored to greenhouse needs
- Lifestyle upgrade: A greenhouse that is both a production engine and a personal retreat
- Legacy value: Builds independence and well-being for generations
- Fully customizable: Explore our 5th Space lifestyle concept—where your greenhouse can be fitted with luxurious amenities such as a fitness room, sauna, cold plunge, and rejuvenating living space
Work With Us to Build Your Wellness Greenhouse
