About the Greenhouse Project
The Greenhouse Project is the name of the project and the name of the non-profit which began this quest three years ago in Carson City. The effort was in response to the direct and vocal need for the school children of our community to:
- learn the importance of sustainable living;
- provide fresh nutritious food free of charge to the food banks;
- get these same families, children, schools and the community
at large unplugged from the TV, computer games and the computer and ‘reconnected’ with the outdoors.
- The aim of the project is to reach children and families who usually don’t spend time outside with nature. To educate them on how they can enjoy the out-of-doors even in the urban areas and the importance of caring for the outdoors and living in a sustainable manner. The project lies ‘smack dab” in the middle of town on the high school grounds. You can’t get closer to home than that!
- The project is designed to be self-sustainable through the provision of energy by solar panels and the ground source heat pump; the proper management of the soils and the growing environment; and the ‘business” end of the project which is completed by multi-aged students and special needs students growing and selling cut flowers and hanging baskets.
- The Carson City School District has provided the land on which the greenhouse project will be built!.The board and the action committee are local professionals the field of horticulture, agriculture, law, arts, marketing, business, grants administration, parks and recreation. They are fully committed to making this project a learning institution that will be successful for Carson City and used as a model state and nationwide.The phase of the project alone will approximate $300,000. There are future phases to build out the project and add many finishing touches and details that are estimated to cost another $200,000.
- The total greenhouse project includes construction of a commercial sized greenhouse, outdoor community gardens and trails. It will include winding ADA walking paths through more than 60 planting beds ! The greenhouse kit is already funded through a 29K HUD grant due to its importance to assisting low-middle income families and homeless . A portion of the underground heat pump is also funded through Carson City Community and Youth programs for 11K. The remainder is funded through over 80K in private funds and donations and the Recreational Trails Program, NV Division of State Parks grant of 200K.
This project has the potential to produce 4500 lbs. of produce per year; 90% of the produce going to local food banks. This is expected to provide 1/3 of the Ron Wood food banks current need (3,000 people per month in December of 2009). 10% goes to the culinary Carson High program. It is projected that the Greenhouse will produce 400 pounds of produce per month. At least 200 students are expected to participate in the educational/vocational programs.
This project will give children and youth a place to potentially learn a new vocation and life skills to increase their knowledge: nutrition, how to grow their own foods, learning how to be healthy, and love the outdoors.
A very exciting component of the project is that the garden will be mostly run by youth; middle and high school and special needs program kids. The work will be accomplished under supervision, but the key to the program are the work study students and the focus on getting low to middle income kids and families involved. The Sustainable Agriculture program that will assist the garden in operations is designed for middle and high-school students as well.
This project will be a learning opportunity for all ages; from the master gardener volunteers, to seniors, to the children of middle and high school age, to their parents. This trail will also accommodate special needs children and adults. It will provide growing area for the Community Sustainable Agriculture programs the kids will develop to help sustain and operate The Greenhouse Project. There are multiple curriculums being developed and already developed by the high school, WNC, NRCS and NV Coop. extension that will provide multiple training and eductation venues for all ages.
Partnerships are the life blood of the Greenhouse Project:
- The Greenhouse Project (a non-for profit)
- Carson City for Carson City Youth Development Grant
- Carson City and HUD, CDBG Community Development Block Grant
- Nevada Division of State Parks; Recreational Trails Program
- Ron Wood Family Resource Center – provide the recipients for the food grown and will distribute the food to these mid-low income families.
- Builders Association of Western Nevada donation of labor for construction
- NV Energy and Sun Solar
- Carson City School District
- Nevada Cooperative Extension
- Manhard Consulting donating site engineering
- Lopiccolo Construction donating construction management
- Darrin Berger Architect donating plans
- Michele Lewis of Carson City High School
- Northern Nevada Supply
- And many others who are donating time, and money….
“Above and beyond”! The entire site is ADA accessible! This was a vital and critical component of the vision for The Greenhouse Project. The design both inside and outside the greenhouse and all planting tables etc…will be designed to provide for persons with disabilities to access and work in the gardens. Special needs programs in Carson City are a vital part of the planting plans each year and therefore were carefully considered in design of the plans.
