Project GROW in Full Bloom

Nestled between the West Sayville Golf Course and the Long Island Maritime Museum, there's a little-known gem of a greenhouse known as GROW, an acronym for Greenhouse Recreation Opportunities Workshop. They are a not-for-profit greenhouse that offers job training and coaching to individuals with autism in partnership with the Suffolk County Department of Parks.

Founded by Robin Jacobs in 1991 as a project of the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), GROW is staffed with older children and adults with autism. The program teaches these individuals vocational and social skills through horticultural tasks, under the supervision of staff members.

Jacobs struck a deal with the Suffolk County Parks Commissioner: If she would assume responsibility for putting the beautiful, but neglected 103-year-old Lord and Burnham greenhouse in working order, and then grow all the plants for the county's 27 parks, the county would lease the building to DDI rent-free. The water bill is also paid for but the greenhouse is responsible for its own electric bills.

DDI operates and leases the facility rent-free through the Suffolk County Parks Department. In exchange, the greenhouse grows and arranges more than 8,000 plants and flowers for Suffolk County parks and all of DDI's 22 residential homes and five school campuses on Long Island. Project GROW also donates flowers to town beautification projects and community organizations.

Jacobs saw in the greenhouse a place where the developmentally disabled could learn things in a community setting in addition to social skills. They acquire skills and confidence through their horiculture training and practice-taking instruction and then responsibility for their tasks in the greenhouse and in the fields, dealing with each other and with the public. Jacobs is still active in Project GROW but was recently transferred to another department.

Groups of between four and eight come in almost every day, working outside in the summer filling flats, sweeping and raking. In the wintertime, individuals work indoors at one of eight workstations located throughout the building.

There are currently two part-time employees on staff at the greenhouse. Linda, who has been working at the greenhouse for 12 years, said the staffing has been reduced due to budget cuts, and they are feeling the economic times just as much as everyone else.

The greenhouse is open to the public seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 563-9240.