Frostburg Grows: Grow It Local Greenhouse Project

Project Goals: 

The Frostburg Grows Project involves conversion of unused mined land to an innovative 5-acre greenhouse and shade house complex designed to train community members for high quality jobs while producing local food and tree seedlings. The environmental, social and economic goals of this reclamation project are to: reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce Potomac basin flooding, reduce acid mine drainage (AMD) generation, reestablish natural forested habitat on strip mined lands, create two permanent, sustainable jobs and a training facility that will help create additional job opportunities, reduce food insecurity, provide local healthy food to the residents of western Maryland and serve as a model for Appalachia.

The two specific goals of the American Rivers-funded portion of this project are to:

1. Construct one acre of greenhouse/training space/composting/shadehouse structures; &
2. Operate the shadehouses for one year to produce native trees.

The construction of the facility will enable the operational phase (not funded by this grant, with the exception of shadehouse operation) to begin, thus allowing accrual of environmental, social and economic benefits mentioned above. And the operation of the shadehouse will continue long beyond the period specified as part of this grant.

Frostburg Grows Funding:

• $22,000 in design funding provided through ARC and the George’s Creek Watershed Association
• $300,000 Award from US EPA Highlands Action Program through American Rivers
• BP Energy Donation of 13,000 watts of solar panels
• MD State Highway donation of recycled construction materials and grading labor

If you have any questions about this project contact Mimi Hernandez at 301-687-3136 or email mhernandez@frostburg.edu


Frostburg Grows; Grow it Local Greenhouse Project Advisory Board:

Mark Goldbach
Grant and Projects Manager
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council

Craig Hartsock
Council President
Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council

Dr. Joseph Hoffman
Dean College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Frostburg State University

Mimi Hernandez
Coordinator, Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies
Frostburg State University

Serena S. McClain
Director, River Restoration
American Rivers

Paul Kazyak
Highlands Action Program Liaison for Maryland
Maryland Departement of Natural Resources

Dr. Dan Fiscus
Assistant Professor Biology
Frostburg State University

Dr. Sunshine Brosi
Assistant Professor Biology
Frostburg State University

William Lantz
Senior Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources
University of Maryland Extension, Garrett County

Derrick Bender
Faculty Extension Assistant and Community Resource and Economic Development (CRED) Educator
Western Maryland

Reclaimed mineland located in Allegany County in Frostburg.
Landowner is providing a no cost lease for 5 acres.

Or go to www.frostburg.edu/aces