Sunday Feb. 22, 2026, 09:30 a.m. (Zoom Meeting)
Speaker: Mark Akimoff
This talk covers the ins and outs of building a unique environmentally responsible greenhouse using phase change and soil temperature differentials below the greenhouse floor to heat and cool. This design is powered by a single fan and can keep the greenhouse frost free under most conditions in Oregon’s Willamette Valley at a fraction of the cost of what it would take using fossil fuels. The build was done to grow alpine and rock garden plants at illahe Rare Plants where efficient, low carbon footprint, and eco friendly practices are implemented as much as possible. This talk covers, history, design, building challenges, testing and tips and tricks for construction and outfitting with loads of practical advice on lessons learned as well as new and emerging technologies like Phase Change Material tiles to save energy in the greenhouse.
Speaker Bio:
Mark Akimoff is the owner of Illahe Rare Plants, a specialty nursery grower of flower bulbs, geophytes, alpines and rock garden plants from around the world. Over his 25-year career as a professional horticulturist, Mark has worked in many sectors of the industry, from plant propagation at Botanical Gardens to Historical Garden management, large scale wetlands, riparian and environmental restoration projects for government, and teaching Horticulture at the Community College level. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Horticultural science from Oregon State University and studied biotechnology at Montana State University. While his personal interest in plants runs wide, a particular fondness for rock gardens and alpine plants often has him exploring the high country for wildflowers. At the nursery in Salem, Oregon Mark trials many different dryland and xeric plants to better help gardeners adapt gardens to changing climate conditions we are seeing especially in the drought stricken Western North America. The flower bulb catalog that is published every summer, offers an amazing array of diverse geophytes from around the world and one of the largest collections of Fritillaria in North America. Mark is the current vice president of the Pacific Bulb Society and a long time member of the Columbia-Willamette Chapter of NARGS. With a passion for Travel and Photography, Mark loves to share pictures of his botanical adventures with garden clubs and groups. Check out the website to see the amazing array of plants that he grows at illahe rare plants online at www.illaherareplants.com
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Mark at Bachelor mountain Geothermal pipe installation
Completed geothermal greenhouse Eco radiator heater
Measuring temperature at geothermal outlet Alpines grown in geothermal greenhouse