Ground is broken for new greenhouse

From left, Jack Wilbur of Design Alaska, Murray Richmond of Sen. Joe Thomas's office, Jay Ramras, UA Regent Jo Heckman, Chancellor Brian Rogers, Dean Carol Lewis, Bernie Karl and Bert Bell of Ghemm Co. Inc. move some gravel in the name of progress April 22 at UAF.

The university’s golden shovels got put to good use for the second time in a matter of weeks, as ground was officially broken today for a new greenhouse for the UAF School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences.

The greenhouse project is wrapped into a bond for the Life Sciences facility that voters approved last fall, as the school’s old greenhouse was removed to make way for the Life Sciences building.

The $5.325 million greenhouse will contain 4,300 square feet of growing areas and 1,278 square feet for growth chambers (similar to big refrigerators). The greenhouse will be used for research and teaching.

“We’ve been working toward this for a long time,” SNRAS Dean and Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Director Carol Lewis said. “This facility will serve us well.”

Lewis said this year is a time of transition, while construction occurs and researchers have to make do without a space to call their own. Lewis thanked Facilities Services and the Institute of Arctic Biology for sharing their greenhouses with SNRAS this spring.

UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers said people have wondered why he is holding groundbreaking ceremonies when it is still chilly out. “We can’t wait to get started,” he said. Fenced areas behind Rogers attested to the fact, as they contained construction equipment and a huge pit already dug.

Rogers said today’s groundbreaking was the second part of the Life Sciences ceremony which occurred March 30.

“This is a critical component for education and outreach of SNRAS and AFES,” Rogers said. He said there has been some public concern about the Georgeson Botanical Garden, a project of SNRAS, and its fate this summer because of losing the old greenhouse. “Sherry and I are life members of the botanical garden and if it closes it is not going to happen on my watch,” he said.

“Every construction project involves a little bit of sacrifice,” Rogers said. “What we’ll see out the other end is a greenhouse ready for the 21st century.”

Rogers said there may be problems with federal and state funding for agriculture, “but we’ll get through this.”

UA Regent Jo Heckman stressed the advantages that the new greenhouse will offer students, who will then take their knowledge to Alaska businesses. “This is a model of connectivity to research, education and outreach and entrepreneurs,” she said. “The workforce trained here will evolve into success for Alaska.”

Former state representative Jay Ramras, owner of Pike’s Waterfront Lodge and a collaborator with SNRAS on greenhouse projects, lamented the lack of focus on agriculture in Alaska. He reminded the audience that UAF is one of the country's land grant institutions (which traditionally support and sustain agriculture).

“People don’t realize how a few square feet can grow a tremendous volume of product,” Ramras said. “It’s extraordinary. Alaska can prove things that other parts of the world cannot.”

He urged the university to finish this greenhouse then build more in rural areas. “We could save a generation in remote parts of Alaska who have never eaten anything that didn’t come out of a bag or a microwave,” he said.

Bernie Karl

Holding up a basket of produce fresh from his greenhouse, Bernie Karl, owner of Chena Hot Springs Resort, told the crowd, “We are what we eat. Shame on us for growing only 2 percent of our food.”

Karl urged everyone to get behind agriculture. “We could be totally self sufficient in the state of Alaska,” he said. “I expect miracles out of this new greenhouse. Maybe we can feed all you rascals.”

University knowledge can go a long way when melded with entrepreneurship, which is what Karl has done with his greenhouses at his resort. He worked closely with SNRAS horticulture experts and got good advice all along the way; now he is growing fresh lettuce and tomatoes year round at Chena Hot Springs and is planning to build 20 acres of greenhouses on the Richardson Highway.

The SNRAS greenhouse, which was designed by Design Alaska and is being built by Ghemm Co. Inc., will feature state-of-the-art technology. It will have an energy curtain, along with controls to program the temperature, lights, humidity and integrate the environmental variables with plant growth.

“This will open up all kinds of opportunities,” said Professor Meriam Karlsson. “This will be a place to come and see all the modern equipment and have educational opportunities.” The structure is slated for completion by October of this year.

Visitors toured the new headhouse/classroom after the groundbreaking.