Because not all food grows well in the greenhouse we are seeking to develop a comprehensive plan for the agricultural program at Arcosanti that includes the revitalization of and redevelopment of the Camp Agriculture infrastructure and facilities.
Another consideration is the reality that there are now four greenhouses at Arcosanti with a total combined growing area that rivals the proposed Phase II Energy Apron Greenhouse. So an effort to revitalize and better design the existing greenhouse facilities has begun starting with the Red Room Greenhouse.
Status of Camp Facilities:
Camp Gardens and Fields - The Camp's agriculture growing areas include several significant properties such as a farm field (15 acres) that was plowed by the tractor and has been used in the past to grow large crops like corn and squash as well as several smaller garden areas that were usually plowed by hand or with a rototiller that total about 2-3 acres in size.
Henhouse - We also have a facility for chickens that includes a pen that encircles the main garden area and a henhouse made out of cobb that protects them from local predators.
Composting - A composting area is located down in camp in which we use heap composting methods to develop soils from the compost materials from the Cafe at Arcosanti and also resident kitchens.
Wells - there are several high capacity irrigation wells in camp as well as several tanks to store the water. One of the wells is a solar pump.
Camp Greenhouses - The two greenhouses were built in the 1970s with a grant from Xerox to do research on the Energy Apron Greenhouse. The main camp greenhouse is about about 1500 sq ft in total area but has about 360 sq ft of planting area. The bathroom greenhouse while a bit smaller has no planting beds and it has about 200-300 sq ft of growing capacity.