Green growth

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Earthganic Greenhouse is a unique business arrangement. It offers a variety of plants to the community at a reasonable price while providing a source of revenue for Crossroads Shelter and jobs for some of the shelter’s residents.
Dr. Noah Malavolti of Blue Ridge Chiropractic is credited with much of the greenhouse project’s success. He bought property on West Lee Highway to open his chiropractic practice in January 2007 and there were two unused greenhouses on site.
“I was looking for a tenant,” Malavolti recalled. “Pat Helton and Andy Kegley approached me about using the greenhouses to generate funding for Crossroads Shelter. We worked out an agreement where I receive a small amount of rent and I pay the utilities.”
Helton is executive director of the Family Resource Center which oversees the operation of the Crossroads Shelter. Kegley is executive director of HOPE Inc.
Crossroads Shelter Inc. is a nonprofit center which provides emergency shelter, basic needs and supplemental services to homeless persons and families of Southwest Virginia. It is funded through grants and donations from various organizations, businesses and individuals.
“They’re doing a fantastic job with the greenhouse,” Malavolti stated. “I’m super pleased that they’re giving back to the community.”
According to Helton, the project was born of necessity and has three major goals. Eventually the greenhouse will provide the additional funding needed to keep Crossroads Shelter operating while teaching the shelter’s clients work skills and providing a product for the community.
“With declining donations and cuts in grant funding, we desperately needed an additional income,” Helton commented. “We learned about the greenhouses and I pitched the idea to our board of directors.”
One of the shelter’s board members, Neil Hollyfield, knew professional agriculture consultant, Shane LaBrake, Helton noted. Hollyfield, she said, paid LaBrake’s expenses to Wytheville to assess the situation.
With LaBrake’s blessing, the greenhouse lease with Malavolti was reached. Last October, Jason Hounshell was hired to manage the greenhouses.
Hounshell, a Wythe County native and Virginia Tech graduate has been a farmer for many years and has an extensive background in agriculture education and science.
In early November 2007, Hounshell, a group of community volunteers and several shelter residents cleaned and renovated the greenhouses. They also made and sold boxwood wreaths and centerpieces to generate much-needed income for the greenhouse project.
Hounshell later oversaw the planting and cultivating of seeds for the greenhouse’s opening in April 2009.
“Jason is an answer to prayer,” Helton stated. “He is perfect for the job. He made this work. He has such knowledge of it all and has been able to teach our clients so much. He is tremendous.”
Two of the shelter’s former residents have been employed at the greenhouses since June. They now reside on Malavolti’s property and also serve as caretakers.
“Working at the greenhouses is soothing and relaxing,” remarked Mark. “It teaches patience.”
Dean added, “I’ve learned a lot. It takes time to learn everything. I enjoy the work.”
A grant to HOPE Inc. provided money for Hounshell on behalf of the greenhouse project to manage the Wythe County Farmer’s Market last summer. He sold a variety of bedding plants and hanging baskets from the greenhouse.
“The Farmer’s Market is seeing more young people,” Hounshell noted. “They’re interested in more natural foods and nutrition.”
One of the features of the greenhouse is several blends of salad green mixes. They are available in individual serving boxes, multi-serving bags and harvest-it-yourself bowls.
“Right now, we only sell them at the Farmer’s Market,” Hounshell pointed out. “They will be available here after the Farmer’s Market closes at the end of October.”
Also for sale at the greenhouse on West Lee Highway are mums, ornamental cabbage, ornamental kale and hanging baskets. Fall displays – potted plants, hay bales and other decorations in various color schemes – are available.
“We’ll set them up and then take them down for people,” Hounshell said.
For the fall holiday season, boxwood wreathes with various decorations and rope hangings will be made and sold by the greenhouse. Selling Christmas trees is being considered.
Earthganic Greenhouse Inc. is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Farmer’s Market hours on Saturdays through the end of October are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Somebody’s usually around the greenhouse on Saturday afternoons,” Hounshell said.
The greenhouse will close to the public by the end of December. The staff will germinate seeds and prepare plants for re-opening in March 2010.
Hounshell noted he is available to talk to groups about the greenhouse operation. He can be reached at 620-9715 to arrange a meeting.
“It’s been very rewarding,” Hounshell remarked. “We started with nothing but dirt and seeds. We’ve come a long way since then.”
Helton also welcomes the opportunity to address clubs, churches and other organizations about Crossroads Shelter Inc. She can be reached at 228-9270.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).