The UCSB Greenhouse and Garden Project (GHGP) has been supported by countless staff, faculty, students and community members over the years. When GHGP reached its final destination, students and community members picked up their hammers and built the current greenhouse entirely of scrap materials.
Why does the Greenhouse inspire such dedicated support? GHGP helps to support the philosophy that through interacting with the natural environment, the GHGP hopes to mold a generation of environmentally conscientious individuals. Allison Peairs and Katie Paul co-directors of the GHGP, describe their goals to "reduce environmental destruction brought about by the agricultural industry through pesticide use, unsustainable land-use practices, transportation, and packaging, by allowing those in the Goleta and the Santa Barbara community to grow their own produce locally and safely."
Geography and Environmental studies Professors Chadwick and Cleveland use the greenhouse in their classes to demonstrate soil science and agricultural practices and issues. There are an additional 75 students, both undergraduate and graduate, who use the facility during the school year to grow their own food. For a full year of fresh fruits and vegetables, the cost of membership is only $20.
Unfortunately, today the greenhouse is falling apart and is currently being used more often as a storage facility than an ecological system. The shabby structure has received little maintenance since its erection and the corrosion of the greenhouse’s panels have made it difficult for sunlight to penetrate and reach the plants. Plants are also susceptible to damage due to broken panes and worn-out framing.
As of October 4th, this is all being remedied. With a generous grant of $26,350 from The Green Initiative Fund's (TGIF), the Greenhouse and Garden Project is receiving a much needed face-lift.
The Physical Facilities department will help in the building of the greenhouse, providing lumber, Plexiglas, sheet metal, and other tools necessary for construction. Materials chosen for the greenhouse will be environmentally preferred products, and capable of weathering the elements. A local contracting company out of Carpinteria, EJS, will oversee construction.
Peairs hopes that the greenhouse will help raise awareness about mainstream agriculture's harm to the environment. She says, "with the increased support of our project and a fully functioning greenhouse, we can build our program to educate our campus community about the importance of sustainable food production practices. This resource has the potential to support a much wider variety of student projects in the education of sustainable practices, which could help save the environment that we have left."
Cal Poly Pomona's John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies has constructed a similar greenhouse. The website for the project states that the center researches and demonstrates low-energy architecture, energy production technology, water treatment, organic agriculture, ecological restoration and sustainable community development. With the development of this new greenhouse, UCSB will be able to demonstrate a similar variety of principles.
Interested in getting your own plot? Contact Allison Peairs at ghgpucsb@yahoo.com
Read more articles about the UCSB Greenhouse and Garden Project or check out their website.