If you've ever wondered what it looks like when education, sustainability, and community all come together in one place, this is it. St. John's United in Billings has officially crossed a major finish line with its downtown Urban Horticulture Education Center greenhouse, thanks to a $195,000 grant that helped make the space fully off the grid and self-sustaining.
St. John's United recently received funding from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust to complete critical electrical upgrades needed to install solar panels. That final step allows the greenhouse to operate independently using clean, renewable energy. In other words, it now powers itself. And that's not just cool in theory, it's a big deal for long-term sustainability and learning opportunities in Billings.
This greenhouse didn't happen overnight, and it wasn't built alone. Previous grants and donations from Billings Public Schools, the C. M. Bair Charitable Trust, Sibanye Stillwater, The Northern Hotel, Northwestern Energy, and other private donors helped launch the project. That early support paid for major pieces like a custom rainwater collection system designed by architect Randy Hafer of Northern Plains Architects. It's a reminder that when a community invests together, something really special can grow.
So what makes this greenhouse different? It uses aeroponic farming, a cutting-edge method where plants grow in vertical towers without soil or pesticides. These systems use 95 percent less water and 90 percent less space than traditional farming.
Read more at Billings Mix
