News
ENLARGE
SUTHERLIN — There's a building growing behind Sutherlin High School.
A greenhouse is under construction, replacing one that had had a rough, aged look after almost 20 years. The old one was torn down in early July by 16 Sutherlin FFA alumni, students and friends, and a larger structure is being built. The framework of the 30-by-60-foot greenhouse was in place last week. Siding, doors, tables, benches and shelves remain to be added.
“Rather than fix the old one, we decided to start all over,” said Wes Crawford, Sutherlin High School agriculture science and FFA adviser.
Crawford, a 2001 graduate of the school, used the old greenhouse as a student.
“The new greenhouse will be more efficient because of updated materials used in the structure. It'll be a better facility for horticulture classes and the plant sale that is run to pay for that class,” he said.
The greenhouse has a steel structure and the siding will be a clear plastic, allowing more light through.
Crawford said the project “should pretty well be buttoned up in October.”
The president of the Sutherlin High FFA Alumni organization, 1995 Sutherlin High graduate Gabe Crane, was a student at the school in 1993 when the old greenhouse was built. Its Fiberglass frame was expected to have a 10-year life span.
“It had outlived its useful life,” Crawford said. “It was a good structure while it lasted, but during heavy rains water was coming in from the sides and pooling up inside.”
The FFA alumni took on the replacement project. The alumni provided the seed money of $5,000 and applied for grants to attract more money for the $65,000 project. The alumni received grants from the Lilja Family Fund, C. Giles Charitable Trust, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust and Whipple Foundation Fund.
“We were very successful and very fortunate to get these foundations on board,” Crawford said. “The greenhouse provides education and opportunities for students, and people see the need for that and responded accordingly.”
Once the old greenhouse was removed, alumni prepped the site and leveled it. The Wolf Creek Job Corps mason crew poured a concrete pad and now the Job Corps construction craft crew is working on the structure.
With school now in session, students in the agricultural, metal and welding class will construct tables for the greenhouse. Then, Crawford said, it will be time to grow plants.
“Essentially, the whole project is a donation to the school district,” Crawford said. “It's been an alumni project, and there's been a lot of support from the community. It's definitely an improvement and a bonus for our program. It'll enhance what the kids do in the classroom.”
Crane said the alumni group's mission is to support the Sutherlin High's FFA and agricultural and science technology programs.
“This new greenhouse will help the FFA program continue to grow in size and to strengthen its membership,” he said.
• You can reach News-Review reporter Craig Reed at 541-957-4210 or by email at creed@nrtoday.com.
A greenhouse is under construction, replacing one that had had a rough, aged look after almost 20 years. The old one was torn down in early July by 16 Sutherlin FFA alumni, students and friends, and a larger structure is being built. The framework of the 30-by-60-foot greenhouse was in place last week. Siding, doors, tables, benches and shelves remain to be added.
“Rather than fix the old one, we decided to start all over,” said Wes Crawford, Sutherlin High School agriculture science and FFA adviser.
Crawford, a 2001 graduate of the school, used the old greenhouse as a student.
“The new greenhouse will be more efficient because of updated materials used in the structure. It'll be a better facility for horticulture classes and the plant sale that is run to pay for that class,” he said.
The greenhouse has a steel structure and the siding will be a clear plastic, allowing more light through.
Crawford said the project “should pretty well be buttoned up in October.”
The president of the Sutherlin High FFA Alumni organization, 1995 Sutherlin High graduate Gabe Crane, was a student at the school in 1993 when the old greenhouse was built. Its Fiberglass frame was expected to have a 10-year life span.
“It had outlived its useful life,” Crawford said. “It was a good structure while it lasted, but during heavy rains water was coming in from the sides and pooling up inside.”
The FFA alumni took on the replacement project. The alumni provided the seed money of $5,000 and applied for grants to attract more money for the $65,000 project. The alumni received grants from the Lilja Family Fund, C. Giles Charitable Trust, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust and Whipple Foundation Fund.
“We were very successful and very fortunate to get these foundations on board,” Crawford said. “The greenhouse provides education and opportunities for students, and people see the need for that and responded accordingly.”
Once the old greenhouse was removed, alumni prepped the site and leveled it. The Wolf Creek Job Corps mason crew poured a concrete pad and now the Job Corps construction craft crew is working on the structure.
With school now in session, students in the agricultural, metal and welding class will construct tables for the greenhouse. Then, Crawford said, it will be time to grow plants.
“Essentially, the whole project is a donation to the school district,” Crawford said. “It's been an alumni project, and there's been a lot of support from the community. It's definitely an improvement and a bonus for our program. It'll enhance what the kids do in the classroom.”
Crane said the alumni group's mission is to support the Sutherlin High's FFA and agricultural and science technology programs.
“This new greenhouse will help the FFA program continue to grow in size and to strengthen its membership,” he said.
• You can reach News-Review reporter Craig Reed at 541-957-4210 or by email at creed@nrtoday.com.
