The Genesis Project » The AJH Gardens

The hoophouse is located just south of the Community Kitchen. It serves as unique, year-round growing space for our AGUA team. Because of the ability to roll up the plastic lining over the top of the structure, the hoophouse can be used in nearly all seasons for growing plants. The plastic lining allows natural light to filter through and traps heat, which is very beneficial during the colder months.  Once the weather is warm, the AGUA team rolls up the lining on the sides in order to reduce the amount of heat trapped in the hoophouse, so that the plants do not endure intense conditions during the summer.

In partnership with the Gale Academy of Math and Science, A Just Harvest utilizes the greenhouse on the third floor of the school building for seedling production, succulent and house plant cultivation, and as a learning space for Gale students. During the winter months, the AGUA team moves indoors to prepare for the next growing season.  The glass exterior of the greenhouse traps heat and permits an abundance of natural light into the space, providing a great atmosphere for growing seedlings, succulents, and tropical plants. Once our seedlings have sprouted and the temperature outside is warm enough, the AGUA team will transplant many of the plants into Anthony’s Garden and sell the rest to our neighbors.

Anthony’s Garden is located just east of the Gale Academy of Math and Science. The garden bursts to life during the summer as the AGUA team plants and cultivates a vast array of fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. With the help of the students at the Gale Academy, the AGUA team begins planting for the growing season in mid-spring, paying particular attention to spacing and organization of the various species in order to ensure abundant growth for every individual plant. The entire garden is pollinator friendly, but the focal point for native pollinators is the space adjacent to the school building.  The AGUA team chooses native flowering plants to maintain a healthy population of pollinating insects, which ultimately benefits the garden as a whole. Anthony’s Garden is the epitome of the beauty that community cooperation can create!