Arlington Heights celebrates community greenhouse

A newly renovated greenhouse at Arlington Heights’ Miner School, funded by the committee that organized the village’s 125th anniversary celebration, will keep the event’s spirit growing beyond this year, officials said Tuesday.

Leaders from Miner, the Quasquicentennial Committee and the village gathered Tuesday morning to dedicate the greenhouse located behind the school, 1101 E. Miner St.

The committee invested more than $5,000 in renovating the greenhouse, which is now fully functioning and will soon donate it’s first crop to the Wheeling Township Food Pantry.

The greenhouse sat empty for several years, but with help from the committee and the Northwest Suburban Special Education Foundation, it’s been brought back to life, said Miner Co-Principal Maureen Daly.

“Our students learn best by doing, so what a wonderful way to help children learn about agriculture and learn vocational skills,” Daly said.

NSSEO students spent some time each day planting, learning about gardening and working in the greenhouse, said vocational teacher Mike McEvilly.

But, organizers say they hope students will take more from the garden than just horticulture skills.

“They’ll learn the value of a community family,” said Jim Platt, school liaison to the 125th committee. “It’s about citizenship, not just gardening.”

The greenhouse is home to different types of lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes, leeks, onions and spinach, according to Di Bolash, a master gardener with the Arlington Heights Garden Club who helped the school with the project.

“This is one example of what really defines a community,” Village President Arlene Mulder said. “The people who live here, the library, the schools — this ties it all together.”