Full Circle Greenhouse celebrates 10 years of growth

The Full Circle Greenhouse has been a quiet staple on the St. Ben’s campus for the last 10 years, providing fresh greens to the community in the dead of winter. Last week was their yearly harvest of produce. However, the future of the greenhouse hangs a bit uncertain. Founded in 2013 by students as part of the Sustainability Alliance, the greenhouse has nurtured a decade of student volunteers passionate about gardening, renewable energy and community. Full Circle is a passive deep winter greenhouse, harvesting solar energy for light and heat.

This past weekend, the founders came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary. Thanks to the effort of these alumni, current student volunteers attend to the greenhouse October through April, ensuring a steady flow of kale, bok choy, arugula, herbs and more to the CSB+SJU community. Every few weeks, produce is sold at Gorecki fireside for purchase. The revenue from the sales, which totaled $90 from the closing season sale this past Friday, is used to support operating costs of the venture. Beyond cultivating and selling greens, student volunteers engage with the community in other ways. The group is divided into teams, responsible not only for tending to the plants, but also education and marketing. In February, the greenhouse partnered with the Nutrition Club for a popular Radish Pickling Event.

Jack Grabinski, a senior at SJU, has been working with the greenhouse for the last three seasons in various roles. This year, he is serving as student director for the greenhouse. As director, he oversees the whole project, coordinating with student volunteers to produce successful harvests week after week. This year, the greenhouse received some faculty support from Kyle Rauch, the Sustainability director. Rauch has been impressed with the harvest output from the greenhouse and the committed volunteers. Despite the greenhouse’s success, a location change may be on the horizon. Built over a utility line, the greenhouse must be relocated as the city prepares for maintenance work on these lines. While the greenhouse will be returning, questions remain about the timeline and location. Rauch and Grabinski expressed trepidation at the moving process itself. The greenhouse will be lifted from its foundation by crane. Contractors have been working closely with the facilities to ensure that this process is as smooth as possible.

Relocation is the next hurdle facing the greenhouse. Full Circle will not return to its original space, as further utility line maintenance will occur down the road. Logistically, the greenhouse must be placed in the correct orientation to maximize solar energy use and must have access to water and electricity. Rauch is also considering how relocation can further integrate the greenhouse into the campus community. Currently tucked away on the edge of campus, many students have never visited the building or even walked by it.

“I’m hopeful and I’m trusting of our contractor but understanding that we’re going into uncharted territory with picking a greenhouse up and moving it,” Rauch said. “When change happens, there’s always the opportunity to address other issues—is there a way to find a better energy source or reimagine the setup of the greenhouse? I’m hopeful we can come up with something fun and creative.”

Reflecting on his time at the greenhouse, Grabinksi is excited to see the Full Circle Greenhouse continue as a resource and opportunity for students to engage with the land and the community.

“It’s really cool that we have a base of people that is invested in making it happen,” Grabinski said. “I think there will always be a group of students who can keep the greenhouse going strong.”

He also hopes to see more education opportunities and engagement with students across both campuses. Grabinksi hopes to see the greenhouse at the SJU Eco-House partner with Full Circle to double their capacity for harvesting and selling and to get more St. John’s students involved in this work.