New Solar Garden Coming To Strawberry Mansion
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A garden plot across the street from Strawberry Mansion High School in Philadelphia is getting a high-tech greenhouse powered by the sun.
Green Mountain Energy's Sun Club contributed $40,000 to the solar-powered project in the 3200 block of Ridge Avenue.
"Twelve different panels, the energy from which will be used to power the greenhouse and the electrical needs of this particular site," said Jason Sears of Green Mountain.
"This site both has a garden and the greenhouse will also help provide seedlings and plants for other community gardens in the neighborhood, some of which people grow for their own use, some of which fuel a neighborhood farm stand, and some of which would get contributed into the food security system," said Matt Rader from the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, which is supporting the project.
"It is a way for my students to understand they are not forgotten and that they can learn and grow from things in their own community," said Linda Cliatt-Wayham, principal of Strawberry Mansion High School.