On Friday, the Greenhouse Project held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new outdoor classroom which will be used to host both students from Carson High School as well as community classes on gardening and agriculture.
In May of this year, the Greenhouse Project announced a grant provided by the William N. Pennington foundation for $25,000 to be used to build the classroom. That grant along with donations from local community partners made the dream of a new classroom come to life.
The Greenhouse Project was first dreamed up in 2009 by Karen Abowd and Janette Bloom after learning about the food shortages facing the underserved in Carson City. After brainstorming ways to help, they came up with the idea for the greenhouse and two years later the doors were opened.
According to Executive Director Jon Ruiter, the greenhouse has been used in conjunction with Carson High School’s agricultural science courses since it first opened in 2011, and has been quickly growing in popularity ever since.
“In 2011, there were probably less than 20 students in the ag sciences program,” said Ruiter. “Now there are over 200.”
The greenhouse project would not be where it is today without [its community partners], said Abowd as she unveiled a plaque on the classroom listing its many donors.
"In the worst of times a new classroom was built, we've seen wonderful improvements and growth at this green central site at Carson High School, and at our Foothill Garden site on the Carson Tahoe Hospital Campus," said Abowd. "The greenhouse project continues to provide healthy fruit and produce to those who would otherwise not have it, and we have raised a consciousness in our youth to seek ag education from a non-existent program to 200 students and a second ag teacher hired by the Carson City School District."
According to Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes, a number of labs at the high school have been modified to help support agriculture studies, including a welding program and an automotive program to provide a learning space for agriculture mechanics as a part of the agriculture science curriculum.
Stokes said that he personally is excited about the expansion of the agriculture program at Carson High School as he was raised on a ranch.
"I love the idea, I grew up on a ranch," said Stokes. "So I came here with an extensive background in cattle and agriculture in general and I am delighted that our kids can now see where our food comes from, they get to understand the whole aspect of business and thinking about small business from this perspective."
"To me it speaks volumes that kids are going back to basics and sustainability and understanding the importance of living off the land and giving back to the land," said Abowd.
The Greenhouse Project also donates thousands of pounds of organically raised produce to local food banks each year and this year, said Abowd, that need has increased. In March, the project lost their Americorps volunteers due to COVID-19, but they were still able to not only meet their quota but exceed past it.
"The need has expanded, but we have been able to succeed, even under the toughest of circumstances," said Abowd. "The loss of the Americorps volunteers impacted the planting, the seedlings, and generally getting things into the ground. But they plowed through and exceeded over 4,000 pounds of produce which is around $13,000 in produce."
Abowd said they are always looking for ways to expand it further in order to provide even more locally grown produce to those who need it the most. She also said that the Greenhouse Project is always accepting donations and encourages community members to join as volunteers, of which there are numerous ways to help.
Greenhouse Manager Cory King said that there will most likely be students in the new classroom as early as next week, which will allow for more social distancing as some students will be working in the greenhouse while others will be in the classroom.
To learn more about The Greenhouse Project, visit http://www.carsoncitygreenhouse.org