News
Walipini pilot build: the underground greenhouse takes shape
5/6/2026 · by Project team
First on-site walipini build: excavation, insulation, orientation. A reproducible method to grow food year-round without heating.
Why a walipini greenhouse
The walipini is a semi-buried greenhouse that uses ground thermal inertia to maintain growing temperatures even on cold nights. It is a cornerstone of food autonomy in stressed climates: winter leaf-vegetable production, spring seedlings, with no fossil energy. Originating from the Andes, it is documentable and duplicable by any trained local group.
What was built on this site
Over two weeks the team excavated a 3-meter-deep south-facing pit, installed a hemp-lime perimeter insulation, mounted a double-glazed roof structure with latitude-tuned inclination, and tested cold/warm air circulation by natural convection. Total material cost stays under 4,000 euros for 28 usable square meters.
What it changes for the project
This greenhouse becomes a concrete demonstration point for local groups. Visitors can see, measure, and understand. Several ambassadors have already requested the plans kit and technical sheet to launch their own build in summer 2026. This is exactly the type of gesture the applied ecology resilient food page aims to document.
Next step
An open 3-day training session is scheduled in June to transmit the method to about ten relays. Slots will be announced on the community letter and the technical sheet will be added to the media library.
Sources and methodology
This article relies on measured field data, interviews, and public references. The method is made traceable so every figure and statement can be verified or replicated.
Methodology: direct observations on the pilot site, cross-checked against the monthly reviews of the authoring team and discussions with relevant local coordinators. Any factual correction can be reported via the contact page.
by Project team