After three years of planning, designing and fundraising, The Greenhouse Project will begin construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday at Carson High School.
The 2,160-square-foot greenhouse and outdoor gardens will serve as a hands-on training center with programs in environmental stewardship, the importance of outdoor activity, civic engagement and academic achievement.
Students will cultivate vegetables to be used in the school culinary classes and local food banks. Flower baskets also will be produced for the downtown Carson City corridor.
The Greenhouse Project has the potential to grow and distribute 4,500 pounds of produce annually. With local food banks and low-income individuals receiving 90 percent of the production, the project will provide nutritious, locally grown vegetables to people in need.
Plans call for the remaining produce to be donated to the Carson High School culinary program to ensure the culinary students have a steady source of seasonal vegetables year round.
At least 200 students are expected to participate in The Greenhouse Project's programs, beginning with high school, grade school, middle school and then Western Nevada College students.
The project is the brainchild of city supervisor-elect Karen Abowd, a member of the Carson City Cultural Commission and chairwoman of the Greenhouse Action Group.
The Greenhouse Project concept started in November 2008 with the Carson City Cultural Commission, an advisory board to the Carson City Board of Supervisors.
The Carson City Board of Supervisors approved the project in February 2009.
The Greenhouse Project is a Nevada nonprofit corporation whose mission is to establish and sustainably operate a community-based greenhouse and garden in Carson City, serving as a year-round source of locally grown agricultural and horticultural products for the Carson City community.
The greenhouse operations will rely on renewable energy sources for power and use ecologically sustainable growing methods to cultivate vegetables, flowers and bedding plants.
For more information, go to www.carsoncitygreenhouse.org.