The Iqaluit Community Greenhouse Society is a not-for-profit organization established in 2001 by residents who wished to build and operate a community greenhouse.
We are in the midst of developing a Five Year Strategic Plan, including our mission statement, goals and values. Please visit us in the future for more information.
Some interesting facts about growing in Iqaluit:
- Located at 63° 45′ 5″ N and 68° 31′ 24″ W, the Iqaluit Community Greenhouse is above the treeline on Baffin Island.
- Southern Baffin Island is part of the Canadian Shield; as such, bedrock can be found throughout the city of Iqaluit. The soils that exist lack nutrients and depth, have low temperatures, and are often too saturated for successful plant growth (Wiken, 1986).
- Some plants do grow naturally e.g. mosses, grasses, low flowers, berries, shrubs, etc. However, these plants have adapted to northern conditions; traditionally southern plants find challenges.
- Our growing season often lasts from June to September. Our season is highly dependent upon overnight temperatures (though, even our daytime temperatures can drop below freezing in the summer!). Air temperature in Iqaluit is influenced by the water temperature of Frobisher Bay, on which Iqaluit sits, and winds off of the Bay can be cold!
Our monthly temperatures in Iqaluit (World Weather Online, 2014).
Our average precipitation in Iqaluit (World Weather Online, 2014). Please note that many “rainfall” days are actually forms of frozen precipitation.
Sources
Wiken, E. 1986. Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada. Ecological Land Classification Series, No. 19. Environment Canada. Ottawa, ON.
World Weather Online. 2014.
World Weather Online. 2014.
Iqaluit Community Greenhouse Society 