Chena Hot Springs Greenhouse Showcases Far-North Sustainability

Fruit and vegetables more than feed resort's staff and guests

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By Heather Hintze
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Story Created: Nov 21, 2012 at 7:40 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2012 at 7:40 PM AKDT

CHENA HOT SPRINGS - At the Chena Hot Springs Resort outside of Fairbanks, it’s all about sustainability. The resort grows all of its own food in a state of the art greenhouse.

It’s not just traditional greens and vegetables you’ll find there, but more tropical fruits like lemons and bananas as well.

Proprietor Bernie Karl said staffers harvest 280 heads of lettuce and 300 pounds of tomatoes every week.

He’s also experimenting LED lighting, using the red and blue spectrum to simulate the exact Kelvin of the sun. Karl said it’s likely the furthest north, year-round greenhouse in the world, which can present some challenges.

“This might not look really significant but when you do this at 50 and 60 degrees below zero. So you're looking at minus 60 outside with keeping it 80 degrees in here... that's a huge temperature swing,” said Karl.

Karl said the greenhouse grows more than enough food to feed the 300 guest and 75 employees every day. The rest of the food is donated to charities or sold to local restaurants.

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