Ribbon-Cutting Held for Renovated Greenhouse at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School: UPDATED

OLD LYME — Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School welcomed more than a dozen community members to view the renovated school greenhouse at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Tuesday, Nov. 19. The greenhouse has been renovated as a partnership between Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG), and the community.    

At the ribbon-cutting, Lyme Food Share Garden President Jim Ward spoke warmly of the relationship LOLFSG had established with Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, saying, “We are excited to collaborate with the school district to revitalize and utilize the greenhouse. This effort fosters a great connection between the school and the community.”

He added, “We look forward to working with students and teachers in enhancing the curriculum and hands-on learning. Garden volunteers will maintain educational exhibits, such as a vermicomposting (worm) bin and a hydroponic display.” 

Ward noted, “Access to a greenhouse will enable the Food Share garden to increase production by starting and maintaining plants for early and late-season crops.”  

Expressing thanks to all the donors, who had made the greenhouse renovation possible, Ward gave examples of the impact the project had made on certain former students.

He explained, “During the fundraising campaign, I spoke to a former student who is a farmer; he told me that his experience in this greenhouse helped inspire his desire to grow vegetables and raise cattle. I also spoke with a local landscaper who shared his positive senior-year experience with the greenhouse. Hopefully, the greenhouse experience will have an impact on future students.”

Ward also acknowledged the support from the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund, noting, “Three years ago, we utilized this program to establish the garden and turned to them to assist us in funding this greenhouse project.” This program supports sustainability improvements across Connecticut.

While searching for a greenhouse in which the LOLFSG could start and maintain plants for late season crops, Jim Ward, president of LOLFSG, noticed the rarely-used greenhouse at the middle school. In his mind, he began to think about the possibilities …

After extensive discussions between LOLFSG and Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, it was agreed that renovating the greenhouse would be beneficial to all.

The LOLFSG raised approximately $8,000 for the project via the Community Match Fund offered by Sustainable CT. 

With these funds, the polycarbonate on the roof, sides and gable end of the greenhouse have been replaced. New exhaust fans, shutters, and vents have been added, along with an irrigation system and a hydroponic tower. 

Ward commented, “The Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden is excited to collaborate with the school district to revitalize and utilize the greenhouse. This effort fosters a great connection between the school and the community.” He added, “ We look forward to working with students and teachers in enhancing the curriculum and hands-on learning.”

Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School science teacher Shannon Glorioso aims to incorporate use of the greenhouse in her teaching this year, including implementing worm-composting. She plans to Introduce and maintain a worm-composting system within the greenhouse to recycle organic waste, thus promoting nutrient-rich soil for plant growth and reducing waste sent to landfills. 

Another topic Glorioso intends to explore in the greenhouse with her students is hydroponics. She hopes to establish a hydroponic system in the greenhouse to teach students about alternative methods of cultivation, water conservation, and the importance of nutrient management in plant growth. 

Raised-bed farming will also be introduced by the energetic Glorioso. She intends to teach students how to cultivate raised-bed gardens within the greenhouse to demonstrate sustainable farming techniques, including soil management, crop rotation, and pest control methods. 

Finally, Glorioso plans to engage students in the entire process of growing lettuce from seed to harvest. But she will not stop there—she hopes to organize regular deliveries of the lettuce to the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. This in turn will not only address local food insecurity but also instill values of community service and empathy in the students.

“Partnerships such as this one between our students, staff and the community are an integral part of what makes our schools outstanding,” said Superintendent of Schools Ian Neviaser.

He continued, “We thank LOLFSG for bringing new learning experiences to our students and raising the funds necessary for the work.” 

Editor’s Note: The greenhouse renovation project used Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund grant program to crowdfund the project and access a matching grant. For further information on the Community Match Fund grant program page, visit this link.