Greenhouse Program

The goals of the Greenhouse Program is to provide a range of education & training program for young people. This Program helps build students' interest in environmental issues and contributes to the beautification of the islands. Through this community service program, students perform at least 24 hours of service per week, during which time they learn various techniques of plant propagation and plant care. They are also introduced to organic gardening techniques including seedling production, planting, weeding and harvesting. Students learn valuable information and practical experience in composting, landscaping, short-crop farming and dissemination, and they are able to work part-time while operating a plant nursery and learning about horticulture. 

Environmental Care

VIWMA's Greenhouse Program is strongly committed to the care of the natural environment.  The plant nursery has increased its locally-sourced seed stock and supplies plants to a range of conservation groups, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and youth groups on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, and other community initiatives throughout St. Croix.  The Greenhouse Program sells plants and provides advice and education about indigenous plants and weed control to interested residents.  In the Greenhouse Porgrams' workshops, trainees have engaged in various activities, including the construction of possum and parrot boxes for local fauna.

Community Engagement

For the past 17 years, the Greenhouse Program has provided fruits and vegetables grown in our organic farm to community and charitable organizations, such as, the Queen Louise Home for the Children, Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged, My Brother’s Table, Abdullum Shelter, and Bethlehem House. Sharing these organic products with the community is a priority for Greenhouse's staff and volunteers.

Educational Opportunities at The Greenhouse Program

The Greenhouse Program offers many different learning opportunities, that include, but are not limited to:

• Plant Care & Maintenance - We focus exclusively on the production of indigenous and native plants. One of our goals is become a center for information on indigenous plants and conservation practices and to encourage the formation of local interest groups to preserve and restore the natural environment.
• Rain Garden – Learn how to construct a rain garden. It is a shallow cavity that is planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses. The garden should be positioned near a runoff source of water to capture rainwater runoff.  Make your own Rain Garden
• Green Waste Composting - The benefits of backyard composting are many. Reducing greenhouse gases from landfills, saving money on chemical fertilizers, and creating a nutrient-rich soil for your yard are just some of the positive impacts of composting.
• Homemade Composting Bin Construction – Learn how to dispose of your household waste by building a homemade composting bin. Construct your own home composter!
• Organic Gardening Basics – Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs (such as chemical fertilizers) that can cause adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.
• Drip Irrigation - Irrigation professionals specialize in the design and installation of landscape sprinkler systems for homes, businesses, golf courses, parks – all kinds of properties.

Focusing on Environmental Education...

The Greenhouse is undergoing a process of redesign, with the ultimate goal being the creation of an Environmental Education Center for the community. This Center will provide the opportunity to experience the natural world; to learn how nature sustains life; to find new ways to develop and nurture healthy communities; to recognize the implications of the ways we feed and provide for ourselves; and to enable a better understanding of the places where we live, work and learn. Stay tuned for more updates and information as it becomes available!