Cool Projects on the Farm
Projects
Deep Winter Greenhouse
In 2017 we received a grant to work with the University of Minnesota to build a V2 Deep Winter Greenhouse. Deep winter greenhouses (DWG) are passive-solar greenhouses that use the energy from the sun as the primary source of heat. This allows us to grow veggies all winter long and educate visitors on the importance of using education and ingenuity to continually invent new ways to grow local sustainable food.
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Native Prairie Restoration
In 2010 we converted almost 10 acres of GMO Corn and Soybean production to a native Prairie Grass Planting through the Pheasants Forever portion of the CRP program. Since then we have managed this part of the farm to be a place of over 40 species of native prairie grasses and wild flowers which, in turn, attracts countless species of beneficial insects such as butterflies, insects, and native pollinators.
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Solar Panels
In 2018 we installed two solar trackers on the farm which produced about 50% of the farms electricity. In 2025 we installed our second set of solar panels and starting in April 2026 our farm was "Net Zero" meaning we produced more electricity then we used. Additionally these allow us to talk to visitors about the importance of resource management.
Straw Bale Home
When the Lake City Catholic Worker Farm was founded in 2007 the first thing that was constructed was a two-story straw bale home. Utilizing local straw bales and sand, and digging clay from the farm, we constructed this beautiful home over a period of 18 months with the help of many friends, family, and strangers.
Geo-Thermal Heating
We decided to utilize Geo-thermal heating for the straw bale home. Geothermal heating uses the steady temperature of the earth to heat and cool a home. Tubes buried about 10 feet underground circulate fluid through the earth, collecting its natural heat and bringing it into the home. Because the system moves heat rather than creating it from electricity, geothermal heating can use much less electricity, saving energy and money while reducing our impact on the environment.
High Tunnel Growing
Our aim is to grow healthy and delicious food efficiently. In northern climates this is achieved through High Tunnel growing. Growing vegetables in a high tunnel is more efficient in Minnesota because it extends the growing season and protects crops from cold temperatures, wind, and heavy rain. The warmer, more controlled environment allows plants to grow earlier in the spring and later into the fall, producing more food from the same amount of land.