INUVIK
The Inuvik Community Greenhouse is opening a little earlier this year, bolstered by added staff and some new programs.

Emily Mann, coordinator at the Inuvik Community Greenhouse, encourages people to get in the gardening mindset now that spring is here. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

Emily Mann, the greenhouse's new coordinator, will be a regular face in the facility, helping members grow their plants and answering questions.

"People that I've spoken to say that it's their favourite place to be in the summer," said Mann, who is new to Inuvik but not to gardening. "(It's) like a tropical oasis, so much green growing tall, all these plants and vegetables surrounding them. It's a therapeutic and calming place to be."

The greenhouse can also be financially beneficial, allowing members to save money by growing their own food instead of buying it in store, she said.

However, it's not quite warm enough for that tropical oasis yet. The greenhouse is opening earlier than usual so members can work on their plots and prepare them for planting.

"Seeds need a certain temperature to be able to germinate," explained Mann. "It won't be quite planting (time) by April 15, still a bit too cold. But people can certainly start getting in there to prepare their soil for planting."

Some vegetables might be ready to plant fairly soon, such as tomatoes and spinach.

The greenhouse used to grow its own seeds for seedlings, but in the past few years has switched to ordering seedlings because it doesn't have the capacity to start as many seeds as the community needs. The seedlings are brought in toward the end of April.

In the past few years, executive director Ray Solotki has spent a lot of time working in the communities with the territorial government. This year, both her and Mann will be focused on Inuvik and hope to offer more workshops.

New this year are smaller box plots for members to use if they want a little less responsibility for a reduced cost.

There's still room for new members, said Solotki.

"Every year there's the rumour that we're full," she said.

Turnover in town always contributes to members leaving each year and new ones coming.

"There's tons of space," said Solotki.

The greenhouse is also looking to build gardens in people's yards, so those members can do their volunteer time in their own yards and then the greenhouse would harvest the plants for market.

Solotki hopes to get five or six members signed up for that new program.

The greenhouse sells vegetables at the Arctic Market and through its veggie box program, which people sign up for to receive a box of vegetables each week.

"We're trying to increase the number of vegetables we're selling through the greenhouse," said Mann.

Also new this year will be a summer camp for youth hosted at the greenhouse, though details are sparse at the moment.

Residents are encouraged to attend the opening day and Easter egg hunt for children at the greenhouse starting 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15.

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