City Subscriptions

Groundbreaking held for new Deep Winter Greenhouse

[Duluth, Minnesota] – The City of Duluth, the Junior League of Duluth (JLD), Community Action Duluth, and the Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community were joined September 6th by the community for an official groundbreaking for the Deep Winter Greenhouse, part of the larger Edible Duluth - Denfeld project at 45^th Avenue West and Grand Avenue.

The site belonged to a former church that was damaged in the 2012 flood and subsequently acquired by the City of Duluth using FEMA and Community Development Block Grant funds. A collaboration with community partners led to a master design for the site, which included a Deep Winter Greenhouse on the northern portion and a community garden on the southern portion. In 2016, the Denfeld Food Forest and Victory Garden was constructed on part of the site, and is managed by the Duluth Community Garden Program. “The City’s role was to look at the best use of this property that would have the greatest benefit to the neighborhood. We are pleased to have convened strong partners that will enrich this site and promote a healthy future for West Duluth,” said Keith Hamre, Director of Planning and Construction Services.

Meagan Avery, President of the Junior League, a vital partner in the project said, “the Junior League of Duluth is delighted to be part of this transformation of a corner of West Duluth and to be working side-by-side with other community organizations as catalysts for positive change in the community. The Junior League of Duluth would like to thank the Essentia Health Foundation, the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, maurices, Whole Foods Co-op, and all of members of the Twin Ports community for their funding support.”

As a philanthropic organization that works on progressive policies relating to sustainability, health, poverty, and hunger, locally and regionally, the Zeitgeist is a major supporter of the Deep Winter Greenhouse. "This greenhouse will improve access to healthy food for people that need it while advancing our local economy, reducing health disparities, and bringing neighbors together. Zeitgeist is overjoyed to part of the team helping this project happen. Thank you to everyone involved," said Tony Cuneo, Executive Director of the Zeitgeist. 

The Deep Winter Greenhouse will be managed by Community Action Duluth as part of its Seeds of Success program. Angie Miller, the Executive Director of Community Action Duluth stated, “The staff and board of Community Action Duluth are very excited that partners and funders working together for years, has resulted in the dream of this important food access project is now becoming a reality. We greatly appreciate the immense investment of time, energy, passion and funding from the Junior League, City of Duluth and Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community. It is because of these partners, that we are ready to transform this vacant lot into a vibrant food growing enterprise.”

The greenhouse should be completed later this fall with planting anticipated during the winter.  

ABOUT

Junior League of Duluth: The JLD is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Community Action Duluth: The mission of Community Action Duluth is empower and engage our community to eliminate poverty, and create prosperity and equity in the lives of the people we serve. We do this through a one stop shop model designed to empower people with low incomes to reach their transportation, health, employment, education, financial and leadership goals.

Zeitgeist: Zeitgeist is a nonprofit arts and community development organization.
We are committed to growing and sustaining a community that is inclusive, diverse, and equitable; artistic and vibrant; environmentally conscious; and a place where every individual can thrive. Working in partnership across our region, Zeitgeist connects like-minded organizations and people to collaboratively create programs that make lasting change.

# # #