The Green House Venture – Education and Ecology

When YouthBridge Community Foundation of Greater St. Louis can partner with an organization whose mission encompasses educating students for a sustainable world as well as beautifying highway embankments, it is a double win! The Green House Venture does that and much more.

Founded in 2015, the Green House Venture (GHV) grew out of realizing the challenges of poor nutrition and inadequate science education, especially among disadvantaged youth. The declining school enrollment, due in large part to the diminishing population of St. Louis, compounded the problem. From the beginning, an approach of collaboration and partnership with different types of schools was established. According to Tom Purcell, President, “We understood that we needed to provide education that was missing from schools in the area, so we formed the Urban Education Alliance, comprised of four types of schools – Parochial, Charter, Magnet, and Christian.” This diversity provided insight into what was needed and what was provided.

GHV partnered with representatives from several colleges and universities in the area for curriculum development and was overjoyed to receive funding from the Wayne C. Kaufmann Charitable Foundation, administered by YouthBridge beginning in 2018. As Tom said, “The money granted gave us credibility as we began to raise funds. It is one thing to have a good idea, but donors want to know how you are going to get there and that you have a good start.”

Working with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, GHV believes that hands-on learning is the best. They have built “growth chambers” at each school that allow students to experience the complete cycle of growth from learning about seeds, planting, watering, nurturing, and harvesting. The chambers can be adjusted for light, moisture, and wind, allowing pupils to view the effects of weather on various types of plants.

In addition to working with students at school, the Green House Venture came up with another innovative way to teach urban agriculture. They understood that plants near highways reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and, if the correct vegetation is planted and cared for, can provide enjoyment for all. GHV worked with the Missouri Department of Transportation to lease a two-block highway embankment on Interstate 44 near Grand Boulevard in the Shaw Area of St. Louis for $1 per year. This Embankment Greenway provides an opportunity for students to get additional practical experience as they apply what they were taught in the classroom. As they plant and tend to the land they learn about the need to revitalize dwindling pollinator populations that are essential for large-scale agriculture.

GHV has purchased a tract of land across the street from the embankment with a vision of a multi-purpose education facility. Along with outside and rooftop gardens, the center will include a state-of-the-art audio-visual system. Tom is particularly excited about plans to include videos of interviews with an assortment of individuals, such as farmers, allowing viewers to learn directly from those involved. Fun programs to attract kids, such as summer camp, scavenger hunts for certain species of plants, etc. will also be implemented and the center will be available for other community events. The Wayne C. Kaufmann Charitable Foundation has contributed to the mission by providing grants that fund interns and help toward summer camp programs.

Funding for the GHV Education Center is nearing completion, with construction anticipated to begin in the fall. Plans are to be open in time for the 2026/2027 curriculum year, thus achieving GHV’s goal of being a regional elementary educational campus. Tom expressed his appreciation for continuing support by YouthBridge and the Wayne C. Kaufmann Charitable Foundation. He said, “The consistency and flexibility YouthBridge exhibits is key for us. We know we can rely on them and when circumstances require changes to our plan, all we have to do is explain our rationale.” He continued, “Another characteristic of YouthBridge that contributes to a successful partnership is the lack of bureaucracy. Despite the magnitude of their work, we know they are easily accessible.”

The Green House Venture encompasses many more programs than outlined, and YouthBridge is proud to have been a partner each year since the beginning. The future of our community – indeed, our world – is dependent on the youth of today learning and adopting healthy, sustainable agriculture practices.