An Accessible Offgrid Community Greenhouse

The Cause

We have operated an offgrid community greenhouse since the spring of 2020. This space has been designed through a collaboration between Strathmore High School students and community members. This space provides opportunities for community groups to use it at no cost and has hosted community garden clubs, elementary classes, junior high groups, groups from other communities, and adults with special needs in its short life. This is a vibrant community space, demonstrating renewable energy and climate resilient design principles both inside and out. We document our story through a Youtube channel and take on all the risk in regards to ideas that will be an important part of our future. The food produced in this space is currently going to the Wheatland County Food Bank's Bread and Extras program which supports over 60 individuals each week.

Through it's operation we have identified some barriers in accessing this space mostly due to the fact that it has been build on a previously underutilized parcel of school land. This spring we will be making not just this community space but also our field more accessible to community members. This will include pathways, a bridge, as well as wheel chair accessible raised beds so that all members of the community can participate.

Who Will it Benefit?

This addition will benefit user groups with potential mobility issues. We have a wide range of demographics accessing this space on a regular basis and making this space more accessible will benefit everyone in terms of safety but more specifically increase access to individuals in wheel chairs or with other mobility issues.