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Community Gardens Greenhouse - Lowell, MA
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| Growing communities from the ground up! |
| 220 Aiken Street Lowell, MA 01852 |
2004
The Community Gardens Greenhouse was founded by Janice Pokorski who was
interested in community building through gardening. At the time, Janice was working at
the Revolving Museum in Lowell as an event planner. With support and
encouragement she developed the Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly Delights which
frames the entranceway to the Revolving Museum.
The Community Gardens Greenhouse was founded by Janice Pokorski who was
interested in community building through gardening. At the time, Janice was working at
the Revolving Museum in Lowell as an event planner. With support and
encouragement she developed the Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly Delights which
frames the entranceway to the Revolving Museum.
 | Jerry Beck, director or Revolving Museum, obtains a $500 grant for garden development | |
| Greenhouse is donated | |
| The Lowell National Historic Park entered into a 5 year agreement with the Community | |
| Gardens Greenhouse enabling the greenhouse to be erected on the property of the National Historic Park's Maintenance Facility. |
2005
Deborah Harding joins. Deborah was volunteering her time with the Lowell National
Historic Park and the Revolving Museum when a mutual acquaintance introduced her
to Janice because of their common interest in gardening. Together they maintained the
Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly Delights and were soon introduced to Walter
Bacigalupo.
In 2004, Mr Bacigalupo was successful in obtaining state legislation to set aside land
as part of Lowell's National Historic Park for a Victorian Garden dedicated to his late
wife, Mary, one of Lowell's great civic and educational leaders.
Deborah Harding joins. Deborah was volunteering her time with the Lowell National
Historic Park and the Revolving Museum when a mutual acquaintance introduced her
to Janice because of their common interest in gardening. Together they maintained the
Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly Delights and were soon introduced to Walter
Bacigalupo.
In 2004, Mr Bacigalupo was successful in obtaining state legislation to set aside land
as part of Lowell's National Historic Park for a Victorian Garden dedicated to his late
wife, Mary, one of Lowell's great civic and educational leaders.
| Janice and Deb were asked to help beautify the Victorian Garden for the Mary J. | |
| Bacigalupo dedication. | ||
| Lowell's Life Alive Café sponsors a spring cleanup for the Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly | |
| Delights and the Mary J. Bacigalupo Victorian Garden. |
2006
Janice's vision for a community garden was being realized. A greenhouse, forced hot
air heating system, mist irrigation system, plant shelving materials, crushed stone
flooring, and a circulating fan were donated, along with seeds, flower, and mulch.
Inspired, Janice wrote and submitted a grant to the Parker Foundation. She found a
partner in the Lowell National Historic Park, as well as a fiscal agent in the Lowell
Parks & Conservation Trust.
In early 2006 Janice recruited Susan Mitchell, owner of Living Designs, a garden
design business. Susan lends her professional design experience and over 10 years
horticultural experience to the development of our gardens.
In June of 2006 Janice met Debra Peters. Debra was operating a retail outlet at the
time and Janice was purchasing various items for the Lowell Folk Festival. In talking,
they found they had similar high tech backgrounds and strong interests in horticulture.
2007
The Community Gardens Greenhouse was awarded a grant from the Parker
Foundation. The Parker Foundation's grant enabled the Community Gardens
Greenhouse to define, The City Gardens Projects, the development of educational
resources and the creation of thematic gardens in more urban areas of Lowell.
Janice's vision for a community garden was being realized. A greenhouse, forced hot
air heating system, mist irrigation system, plant shelving materials, crushed stone
flooring, and a circulating fan were donated, along with seeds, flower, and mulch.
Inspired, Janice wrote and submitted a grant to the Parker Foundation. She found a
partner in the Lowell National Historic Park, as well as a fiscal agent in the Lowell
Parks & Conservation Trust.
In early 2006 Janice recruited Susan Mitchell, owner of Living Designs, a garden
design business. Susan lends her professional design experience and over 10 years
horticultural experience to the development of our gardens.
In June of 2006 Janice met Debra Peters. Debra was operating a retail outlet at the
time and Janice was purchasing various items for the Lowell Folk Festival. In talking,
they found they had similar high tech backgrounds and strong interests in horticulture.
2007
The Community Gardens Greenhouse was awarded a grant from the Parker
Foundation. The Parker Foundation's grant enabled the Community Gardens
Greenhouse to define, The City Gardens Projects, the development of educational
resources and the creation of thematic gardens in more urban areas of Lowell.
| From spring through fall CGG volunteers and garden stakeholders completed development | |
| of the St. Patrick Neighborhood Church Garden, the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Vegetable Garden, and a garden project with the Lowell Charter Public School. | ||
| Volunteers maintained the Revolving Museum's Garden of Big Ideas and Earthly Delights, | |
| started refurbishing the Mary J. Bacigalupo Victorian Garden bringing back the original Victorian plantings, and began development on the Community Gardens Greenhouse Signature Garden. | ||
| The Community Gardens Greenhouse supplied flowers to the Dracut Children's Memorial | |
| Garden and partnered with the YMCA on the Franklin Street project, as well as with United Teen Equality in providing greenhouse space for their sustainable farming efforts. | ||
| The Community Gardens Greenhouse website went live in April of 2007, two months after | |
| its inception and in concert with the first sponsored Earth Day event. | ||
| The rugby team from UMASS at Lowell generously donated their time helping with heavy | |
| lifting and cleaning at the greenhouse and the Franklin Street Project. Plant Food, Not Bombs, another team from UMASS at Lowell, helped with seed starting. | ||
| In May, the greenhouse volunteers ran the first Spring Fling, an annual plant sale fund | |
| raiser, with flowers grown in the greenhouse. Private orders were taken before and after the event for those who could not make it on the designated date. | ||
| During the summer months, CGG volunteers participated in the Yard Sale for the Missions, | |
| Lowell Folk Festival, and Fourth Annual New England Culture Fest. | ||
| Boston was the host city this year for the annual American Community Gardening | |
| Association (ACGA) Conference. The Community Gardens Greenhouse was part of their tour. | ||
| In October, Motorola offered their assistance in fall cleanup at the Signature Garden and | |
| greenhouse during their Global Service Day. |
