the story of lynchburg grows - michael van ness

Lynchburg GrowsH.R. Schenkel Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center

1339 Englewood St. off Fort Ave. Lynchburg, VA 24501

Lynchburg Grows’ H.R. Schenkel Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center

Fall 2003 – the seed is sown!

“The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.”

- Abraham Lincoln

Spring-Summer 2004

The Garden springs forth and blooms.

Appalachian Power helps secure land for garden!


•6.8 acres zoned Heavy Industrial

•9 Greenhouses totaling 2 acres under glass

• 5 greenhouses built in 1919 – oldest in VA

•When closed in 1999, comprised 23% of VA’s greenhouse flower industry

Jan 7, 2011 placed permanent conservation easement on farm in partnership with City of Lynchburg. This date marked 59th

anniversary of Mr. Schenkel’s father taking over operation and ensures that the property will remain a farm and be open to the public forever.

Before Pictures 2004 – 2007

Greenhouse #9 – former Rotary project, now a catering hall!

August, 2005

Lynchburg College &

Randolph Macon Woman’s College

“Make a Difference Day”

Capital Improvement Projects

To restore the greenhouses more than 5,700 volunteers have donated over 70,000 hours since 2005.

Volunteers came from all walks of life and ability levels.

Over 2,400 have been college students including alternative spring break groups.

Disabled volunteers work with at-risk youth, master gardener’s, and volunteers.

Other Volunteer Groups

Most roses are donated to nursing home, churches, community groups, and first time visitors taking a tour – approx. 15,000 per year.

Rose donations have generated over $420,000 in gifts since 2007.

Lynchburg Community Market

The Early Years… 2004-2008

Striving towards self-sufficiency


Agricultural Production

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Families can join our CSA program on a monthly basis.

cost is $15/ week

Food is grown by Lynchburg Grows and we have partnered with more than 40 VA farmers.

St. John’s Episcopal Church Partnership to Feed the Hungry

Greenhouse Number 8 – Before Picture, November 2006

October 2009 Picture

Food donations to local food Pantries such as Daily Bread, Salvation Army and Society of St. Andrew:

2005 - 2014, over 60,000 pounds of fresh produce grown and donated to feed the hungry.

St. John’s Greenhouse # 8


Other Notable Facts

• Vegetable and rose sales have us on track to sustainability. Last year we were 1/3 self-sufficient generating over $6,000 per month in revenues and a goal of sustainability by the end of 2017.

• 11 employees – 8 of them disabled. Three have been with LG for over 9 years.

• Average of over 1,900 adults and over 1,700 children each year for educational and volunteer activities

• Partnerships with Juvenile Detention Center, the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, along with Lynchburg City Schools bring at-risk youth together with disabled students. Teaching empathy with a “hands-up” approach.

E. C. Glass High School

Fall 2007 - present

Community Gardening & Education

Jubilee Center – Farm Camp

Bass Elementary Farm Camp

1 week for each group since Summer 2008

Rustburg Elementary SchoolPre-K


The Capital Campaign for Greenhouse #7The Challenge:

To transform the 95 year-old Greenhouse 7 into a modern aquaponics and educational greenhouse for $150,000.

Committee Members: Rodger Fauber, Roger Vaden, Pete Warren, Stuart Turille, Larry Jackson, John Matheson, Scott Lowman, and Michael Van Ness


The Capital Campaign for Greenhouse #7

The Design: Utilize the raised beds and existing structure to create a unique educational

experience for visitors while maintaining a vegetable production component.

Includes:

- 2 Classrooms- 8ft walkway- (3) 3000 gallon

rainwater ponds

- Handicap accessible raised beds


Greenhouse #7The Rubber Hits the Road!


What’s Next? - The Capital Campaign of 2013

The Challenge: Raise $500,000 to create: 1) A 45,000 gallon rainwater collection system2) Restore the historic greenhouses 4, 5, and 6

3) Create a hybrid solar / biomass boiler radiant heating system

Committee MembersFred Cawthorne, Robert Taylor, Jr., Jerzy Nowak, Rodger Fauber, Roger Vaden, Pete Warren, Stuart Turille,

John Matheson, Scott Lowman, Michael Van Ness

Lynchburg Grows’ HR Schenkel Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center

The first half of the campaign has been raised and in midst of completion.

LG is seeking to raise $250,000 by the end of 2015 for the 2nd half of campaign to complete the Biomass/passive solar boiler.

Please join us in this unique opportunity to create a national model for building sustainable agriculture and communities!


Food DesertsIn partnership with Centra Foundation, the Lynchburg Area Food Policy Council, VA Department of Health, Randolph College and others LG is striving to eliminate the barriers to accessing healthy food in inner-city “Food Deserts.”


Agricultural Education Pipeline & ARECLG is working with Lynchburg City Schools, VA State University, VCE, CVCC and Lynchburg Beacon of Hope to develop programs for high school students interested in related career opportunities including culinary arts.

Please join us in this unique opportunity to create a national model for building sustainable agriculture and communities!

Quotes from partners and supporters:

“While the Department often points to the ideals that sustainability and historic preservation have in common, it is not often that one historic property so completely exhibits those shared concepts.” - Ann M. Andrus, Director, VA Dept. Historic Resources

“I have watched this organization grow and mature over the last six years and have been amazed with their accomplishments” - J. Meade Anderson, Brownfields Program Manager, VA Dept. of Environmental Quality

“Lynchburg Grows’ success and stellar work of bringing communities together through agriculture, impacting at-risk youth, providing job training for people with disabilities, and interfacing with the local farming community is unequivocally a national best practice worthy of replication. Lynchburg Grows is a landmark urban farming initiative in our region.” - The Honorable Cynthia I. Newbille, Richmond City Council

“Lynchburg Grows has successfully brought together at-risk youth, individuals with disabilities, the faith community, area colleges, the farming community, and the average Lynchburg citizen around a common goal of urban farming.” - The Honorable Joan F. Foster, Mayor City of Lynchburg

“There is no better approach to building youth self-esteem and creating values which are fundamental to the everyday life and to building resilient and sustainable communities where everyone is a contributor and his/her contribution is respected.” - Jerzy Nowak, PhD., Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech (Founder VT’s Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention)

“this is a tremendous chance for Lynchburg Grows to not only create a model for the community, but to rise to the level of being a national leader for a healthy, sustainable way of life.” - Will Snyder, President Tricycle Gardens, Richmond, VA