News

New Greenhouse Underway

July 24, 2007

After a couple of years of planning and fundraising, our new greenhouse is under construction! Click here for weekly photos of the greenhouse as it rises.

Because our old greenhouse, built in the late 1970’s was obsolete, not containing any new innovations in greenhouses, we began to work towards building a new one. Instructors, students, alumni, and the college foundation began a fund raising effort with the support of the administration. One of our efforts was a highly successful “Green Gala” event held in spring of 2006. We also received donations from members of the industry, alumni, and other supportive local businesses. The Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association, the state trade group, showed their support by issuing two grants to the program for computer controls and a modern irrigation system.

Our new greenhouse will reflect innovations in greenhouse design, will be highly energy efficient, and will be computer controlled. This will allow us to instruct students in managing a computer controlled greenhouse. We will also be able to better execute new ways of growing crops that were difficult in the old greenhouse.

We expect the greenhouse to be ready by beginning of the fall semester, 2007, and will get its trial run as we grow our fall chrysanthemum crop.

View Weekly Construction Photos

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