In late November, construction was completed on Worcester’s first hydroponic greenhouse behind King Street’s Stone Soup Community Center.

In months since the ribbon-cutting ceremony, volunteers, local culinary and gardening experts, and school groups have gathered to make the greenhouse an economically successful and educational addition to the local community.

Matt Feinstein, co-director of Worcester Roots, an organization dedicated to increasing opportunities for economic, social and environmental justice, has been involved since the start.

So far, the greenhouse has been considered a trial project to test the effectiveness and economic viability of such a cooperative in this region.

“We know that just this greenhouse alone will not make a huge impact in the hunger issue, but we see it as the pilot for a much larger project,” said Feinstein.

However, after only three months in operation, Feinstein and a select group of WPI students are already looking for new sites for additional hydroponic greenhouses featuring various aquaponic systems.

The desire for an urban gardening space began three years ago, explained Feinstein. “A group of residents from Plumley Village who had started a community garden and then a playground were interested in opening a greenhouse. It didn’t work out, but the idea remained.”

Projects similar to this are often stalled when it comes to financing. Worcester’s first community hydroponic greenhouse, however, was funded from organizations and city residents from across the spectrum. In addition to a crowd-funding campaign, UMass Memorial Community Benefits, New England Grassroots Environment Fund, The Stoddard Charitable Trust, The Fletcher Foundation and GS Fuller Foundation were all involved in funding the new venture.

After an additional year of planning and assistance from Worcester Roots, the wish of the Plumley Village residents for an urban greenhouse was realized.

“So far, [the greenhouse] has been received well. Not just with people showing up to the ribbon-cutting, but also in community work rates. We had a series of work sessions, and lots of people came out,” said Feinstein.

As the concept, funding and implementation of the greenhouse was a community affair, so, too, is the ownership. As a mission-based cooperative business, the greenhouse is owned by the workers. This distinction is very important Feinstein said.

“We see democracy not as just belonging to the ballot box; democracy can also be done in our workplaces. Where we work, we can have a say, we can have a vote and opportunities to share responsibilities,” he added.

Those partners included in the ownership of Worcester’s first hydroponic greenhouse are: Worcester Roots, Stone Soup Community Center, Green Revitalize, Technocopia, YouthBuild Worcester/Training Resources America, Digger’s Landscaping Cooperative and WPI’s IQP team.

“Our main goal is to help build a new economy with social justice at its core,” said Feinstein.

Worcester Roots chose to invest in the greenhouse project because as an employee-owned, sustainable business, in the long-term, it will teach people a skill, allowing them to invest in themselves and their future. The organization believes that by building personal equity, it is possible to move forward out of poverty.

The greenhouse turns a profit from the produce it yields, which the growers sell to various restaurants throughout the city, as well as at farmers markets.

Howard Lucas, of Worcester’s food bank, Greenvitalize, has a few ideas as to how to market the greenhouse to attract buyers. From farm-to-table to food carts to selling to established local restaurants, Lucas believes Worcester can lead the nation in urban gardening.

“There are a lot of opportunities that have tremendous potential in terms of production, access and improving food justice for all. In terms of Worcester being pioneers, we can really set the stage throughout the nation in terms of local food production,” he said.

Lucas believes this process should start with entrepreneurs. For example, Drop It Like It’s Hot Sauce, produced by YouthGROW, a group of enthusiastic young gardeners out of Worcester, could benefit from a commercial garden and kitchen.

“We have local artisans looking to put their food – craft food – on the map,” and this greenhouse is the first step in that direction, he said.

In addition to creating jobs and investing in the wealth of the city, Lucas is proud of the health education campaign around the greenhouse. School groups and community programs visit the greenhouse when teaching the importance of eating a healthy diet, introducing young children to fruits and vegetables and helping those interested learn more about urban gardening.

From these visits, Lucas and the co-owners will take feedback and adapt the greenhouse to suit the community’s growing needs.

If you’re interested in becoming involved in the greenhouse, stop by Stone Soup or visit stonesoup.org.

By Emily Gowdey-Backus