We, members of the GCC Permaculture Club, are deeply passionate about food security and believe in the power of sustainable agriculture to nourish our community. Our college has a greenhouse that was built with an intention to study plant life and contribute towards food security. However, it was constructed incorrectly and is now being converted into an HVAC lab instead of being repaired for its original purpose.

We believe this decision overlooks a crucial opportunity to address issues of food insecurity in Greenfield, MA. The greenhouse could serve as a year-round source of fresh produce while also providing valuable educational opportunities for students studying sustainable agriculture.

According to Feeding America, 1 in 8 people struggle with hunger in Massachusetts (Feeding America). This issue is even more pressing given the ongoing pandemic which has exacerbated existing inequalities. The repurposing of the GCC greenhouse could be one step towards addressing this problem by providing locally grown produce while educating future generations on sustainable farming practices.

We urge you to consider our plea and redirect resources towards restoring the GCC greenhouse for its intended purpose - contributing towards local food security through education and production. Please sign this petition if you agree that healthy food is crucial to a healthy community, and that we should use every resource available – including our campus greenhouse – to achieve this goal.