The Greenhouse Program

The Greenhouse Program was designed to increase the public’s awareness about the environment. This program allows students to learn about the many landscaping and medicinal uses of various plants and trees. While the main focus is to promote educational activities on the use of plants in the development of a clean, healthy environment for the general public, the program also offers other activities which include producing vegetables to donate to homes and shelters, and assist in the preparation of box gardens in several homes throughout St. Croix. Through this program, students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in composting, landscaping, short crop farming and dissemination. They are also able to work part-time while operating a plant nursery and learning about horticulture, which helps the greenhouse to provide medicinal, fruit and decorative plants to beautify the island.

The mission of the After-School Greenhouse Program is to promote the beautification of St. Croix through the production of plants and to provide a setting where St. Croix youths can learn how to preserve and protect local trees and plants. Its five key goals are:

1. Provide an outlet for student community service.
2. Provide assistance to schools and community.
3. Establish an After School Environment Club.
4. Maintain an organic vegetable garden for donations to children’s homes, elderly housing communities and homeless shelters.
5. Continue to increase staff skills and knowledge in the field of horticulture and preservation.

As one of its goals, the Greenhouse also provides community service opportunities for students in high school. This program helps build students interest in environmental issues and contributing to the beautification of the islands. Through this community service program, students perform at least 24 hours of service per week where they participate in various techniques of plant propagation and plant care. They also have the opportunity to be introduced to organic gardening techniques which include seedling production, planting, weeding and harvesting.