Charter Greenhouse

Major Activity

To provide Church members and friends with a practical outlet for their horticultural interests, skills and knowledge

Purpose

(1)To provide Church members and the community with a variety of plantsincluding heirloom and native selections at reasonable prices during sales held every weekend in the Spring and several other times during the year

(2)To provide plants to enhance Church grounds as needed

(3)To maintain gardens in the vicinity of the greenhouse and other Church grounds as able

(4)To provide a place for limited gardening programs to Church R.E. and Ft. Hunt Preschool

(5)To maintain our historic Lord and Burnham Greenhouse which was built in 1930 and make repairs and improvements as required

(6)To provide the Church with a modest income each year

Membership

Interested Church members and friends.No limit on number of members.

Organization

Informal.The Greenhouse manager has primary responsibility for the selection, ordering and care of plants grown in the Greenhouse and with the operations, sales schedule and maintenance of the Greenhouse.The manager relies heavily on the assistance and advice of Greenhouse Group members.Meetings of the Greenhouse Group are held monthly.Information about Greenhouse Group activities are put into the Church bulletin periodically. The Greenhouse manager maintains the Greenhouse revolving fund bank account, deposits receipts,and pays bills.

Finances

The Greenhouse Group uses a revolving fund to finance continuing operations, repairs, oil, plants, seeds, supplies and contributions to the Church with income derived from sales to customers.

Historical Footnote

Much effort and some $50 cash was contributed by the members of the group to restore the Greenhouse starting in 1984. Hartwood Foundation contributed $500 and the Church made several hundred dollars available for the purchase of a used furnace and various supplies and equipment.Members of the Greenhouse Group (or Green thumbers as they were then known) donated $1,000 to the Church in 1986. In 2004 two automatic ceiling and side window openers and two circulating fans were installed.In 2005 the cold frame which was destroyed in a snow storm was rebuilt.In 2006 a new door was hung between the greenhouse and the potting shed.Major patches of rotten wood at the right entranceway and several panes of broken glass were also replaced.