Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do schools pay for a greenhouse, and how long does it take?

Most schools we work with pay for their greenhouse with one or two grants, plus district capital or CTE (Career and Technical Education) money. Expect 12 to 36 months from the first conversation to students walking in.

Where the money usually comes from:

• State CTE and agricultural education grants, often the backbone for high school ag programs
• AgSouth Farm Credit's "Growing Our Communities" program
• Whole Kids Foundation garden grants
• USDA Farm to School grants
• Specialty Crop Block Grants through your state department of agriculture
• FFA boosters and local fundraisers to close the gap

Most school districts close their fiscal year in June, so timing matters. Here's what the schools that move fastest do:

• Fall: get a grant-ready quote
• Spring: get board or district approval
• Summer: we build while classes are out, so the greenhouse is ready for students in the fall

Tip: Ask us for a quote first. Nearly every grant application asks for one, and it gives your principal or district a real budget number to work with.

2. What size greenhouse does a high school ag class of 25 to 30 students need?

For one class of 25 to 30 students, most schools start with a 30 x 60 greenhouse. If you run plant sales or have two teachers sharing the space, look at 30 x 72 or 30 x 84.

Plan for storage or a headhouse from day one. Potting soil, trays, tools and supplies need a home, and it's much easier to build that in now than to add it later.

3. What comes in a typical school greenhouse package?

Our school greenhouses are built on the Instructor frame with twin-wall polycarbonate covering. The standard package includes:

• Exhaust fans and shutters
• Vents
• HAF circulating fans
• Unit heater
• Evaporative cooling system
• Irrigation system
• Benches
• Equipment controller
• Shade cloths

Popular add-ons: aquaponic systems, hose trolleys, and an automated internal shade system.

4. Who takes care of the greenhouse over summer break and weekends?

The equipment does most of the work. The equipment controller runs the vents, fans, cooling and heat on setpoints, so nobody has to be there to open and close things. Add timed irrigation and shade cloth for the summer months, and someone stopping by for about 15 minutes a week in July is usually enough.

5. Do school greenhouses need sealed engineering drawings and a permit? Do you handle that?

Requirements vary, so check with your school district or county permitting office first.

When they're needed, we can provide:

• Sealed structural drawings
• Grant-ready quotes
• Insurance certificates

If your project also needs sealed electrical or other plans, you'll want an architect or outside engineer for those.

6. What safety features matter in a school greenhouse?

A greenhouse full of students needs the same thinking as any classroom, plus a few things specific to the equipment:

• ADA-accessible benches, doors, and aisles
• A sealed-combustion heater
• GFCI-protected circuits
• Guards on all fans
• Fire extinguishers and exit signage

7. Can a school greenhouse pay for itself with plant sales?

It can. Many programs cover their operating costs with one or two plant sales a year. If that's part of your plan, size the greenhouse and benches for the plant sale, not just for the class.

8. Which greenhouse manufacturers build for schools in the Southeast?

Not many. Plenty of companies sell greenhouses, but few handle the design, engineering, installation and support themselves.

We do. Our Instructor line was built specifically for education. We manufacture it in Columbia, South Carolina, and our own crews install it.

Whoever you talk to, go to the manufacturer directly, not just a distributor. Then ask these six questions:

• Do you have your own install crews?
• Can you provide sealed drawings?
• What wind and snow loads is the greenhouse designed for?
• How quickly does your customer support respond?
• What is the warranty?
• Can I visit one of your school greenhouses?