In spring of 2013, we began managing the operations of a 18 by 32 foot greenhouse at Westwood Manor Nursing Home in Rogers Park. The greenhouse was built in 2011 for the primary purpose of providing recreational activities for nursing home residents while connecting with the surrounding community.

Read more about the greenhouse project in this DNAinfo Chicago article! 

In its current format, the greenhouse is used to:

• Provide horticultural recreation to nursing home residents
• Grow seedlings for local community and residential gardening projects
• Train LETS GO Chicago volunteers and interns in greenhouse production practices

In the second year of our partnership in 2014 we were able to grow several thousand seedlings that went out to local gardens and gardeners. Classes resumed for residents in the summer and fall into early winter. We look forward to continue to develop this partnership and strengthen the capacity of the space to support local food development and offer an intergenerational educational space for our community members.