Students at greenhouse at Journey Elementary, a project led by the Casper Community Greenhouse Project. (Brendan LaChance, Oil City)
CASPER, Wyo. The Casper Community Greenhouse Project are working to transform a 5.83 acre piece of land near Rocky Mountain Oncology into a large community greenhouse, market and event space they are calling Grow Casper.
Casper Community Greenhouse Project Director LeAnn Miller told the Casper City Council on Tuesday, June 9 that Grow Casper includes plans for:
Everything on this property will be an edible landscape, Miller said adding that the space would be used to host festivals and events in an urban environment.
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Miller said that the Casper Community Greenhouse Project has support from a number of partners such as the Wyoming Medical Center, who have provided access to the land. The Casper Community Greenhouse Project has a five year lease for the land with the option of renewal, she explained.
She added that work on the space has already begun. The cornfield has been tilled and some raised beds are in place and already growing things.
She added that greenhouses and other aspects of the project are also underway. Grow Casper is located at Venture Way and Second Street.
Miller added that this is not the first project the Casper Community Greenhouse Project has spearheaded. Theyve built greenhouses at Evansville and Journey Elementary Schools in Casper to support educating children on where food comes from.
Miller said that a survey of 1,000 children found that 41% of kids under the age of 8 didnt know:
The new Grow Casper community greenhouse and garden space would help educate people generally about how to grow food and the importance of a healthy diet.
Miller said that a healthy diet full of locally grown foods can help prevent diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
Eating good food and local food is much more nutritious, she said. Food can be our medicine.
Miller asked the Casper City Council to become partners on the project by providing about $36,000 to provide water and sewage to the property. She said that there is some water infrastructure in place, but that further development would improve the situation.
Since the Casper Community Greenhouse Project does not own the land, some on the council expressed concern that their lease might not be renewed at the end of the five year term.
Vice Mayor Khrystyn Lutz recommended the council hold off on committing any funding until the council could get some assurances from the WMC and Natrona County that Grow Casper could keep their lease to the land beyond their current five year lease.
She also asked that the council receive further information from City Manager Carter Napier as to whether the city has the optional one-cent sales tax funding necessary to support the project prior to committing funding.
Councilman Bob Hopkins added that he would to have further information on the project provided by the citys Planning Division regarding the Casper Community Greenhouse Projects plans and designs for the space.
Council decided not to give direction as to whether they would commit the funding until they receive such further information on the project.
Councilman Ken Bates(Ward II, Term expires 1/5/21):
Councilman Steve Cathey(Ward III, Term Expires 1/5/21):
Councilman Bob Hopkins(Ward I, Term expires 1/5/21):
Councilman Mike Huber(Ward I, Term expires 1/5/21):
Councilman Ray Pacheco(Ward III, Term expires 1/3/23):
Council members can also be reached by mail at:200 N. David Street, 82601
If you would like to contact members in your specific ward, but dont know which ward you are in, amap is available at the City of Caspers website.
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City asked to partner for Grow Casper, large community garden and event space project - Oil City News
