WeHa Church Gains Approval For Charitable Sustainable Greenhouse

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Plans to build a sustainable greenhouse at a local church recently received the approval of local zoning officials, a decision that could help the area's needy.

And the source of power, literally and spiritually, will come from up in the sky.

The West Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved a project by the St. James's Episcopal Church to build a solar-powered greenhouse at its 1018 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, site.

PZC members easily voted 4-0 at a special March 20 meeting to approve a special permit to build the greenhouse with standard conditions.

According to the Rev. Joseph J. Rose, the 10-foot-by-18-foot greenhouse will have both an educational, spiritual and charitable component.

The facility would allow the church to, actually, grow fresh vegetables that can be donated to local charitable causes, namely The Hartford Catholic Worker based in nearby Hartford.

"The greenhouse will allow us to provide more fresh vegetables through our feeding partnership with the Hartford Catholic Worker and provide a gathering place for prayer services and education," wrote Rose, St. James's assistant rector, to the town.

He said the church already grows fresh produce at the site, called the "Good News Garden," and the greenhouse would enhance that initiative.

In addition, he said, it would be powered by a single solar panel and feature a rain-barrel drip-tube system to water the plants, a labor-free, self-watering system.

"We also plan to plant a pollinator garden outside the greenhouse, which will benefit the ecosystem of plants and trees in the surrounding neighborhood," wrote Rose.

For the minutes of the March 20 West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission meeting, click in this link.

For all information and documents related to the application, click on this link.

For more information on St. James's Episcopal Church in West Hartford, click on this link.

For more information on the Hartford-based The Catholic Worker organization, click on this link.