Scrooge has no place at the NC Teaching Greenhouse.
The spirit of giving has taken root at the educational greenhouse, serviced by students of the College’s horticultural programs.
About 200 student-grown poinsettias and an assortment of produce — cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and strawberries –all grown at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, will be donated to various community organizations during the holiday season.
During the week of December 13, donations from the Teaching Greenhouse made their way to recipients from the Welland Heritage Council to Project Share in Niagara Falls. More community organizations will continue to receive donations once its annual poinsettia sale ends for the season.
In addition to donating flowers, Greenhouse manager Matt Orr noted that they plan to donate as much produce as they can. Throughout the year, excess produce is donated regularly to Community Care in St. Catharines, as well as to NC students.
“I feel that it is important for the College to give to the community that we are a part of. Trading a few flowers for a few smiles makes it well worth it for us here at the greenhouse,” said Orr. “We like to see the fresh produce we grow go to people that will make good use out of it and we hope that the flowers will brighten someone’s day a bit.”
Lori Webster, program coordinator, Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre/ Employment solutions, noted that the donated flowers are well received by their students.
“The students really appreciated the flowers and were happy to receive them,” she said. “Our students are missing their extended families and it means a lot to receive a beautiful gift and learn about the tradition of poinsettias.”
Poinsettia sales from the Greenhouse are also instrumental to the College’s annual fundraising campaign for the United Way, as a portion of the sales proceeds support the initiative. NC’s 2021 campaign, which wrapped up on December 14, raised a record-breaking $50,000 for United Way Niagara.
Poinsettias, and other seasonal items, may be purchased online at store.ncteachinggreenhouse.ca and picked up curbside while quantities last.
