LP Foundation grant funds greenhouse

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The Sacramento River Discovery Center staff met with the representatives of the Red Bluff Louisiana Pacific facility to show the 18 by 30-foot greenhouse that the LP Foundation funded for use by the SRDC. The Louisiana Pacific Foundation had chosen the Sacramento River Discovery Center to be the recipient of a grant for the use of Red Bluff High School natural resource Interns. This new facility will enhance the Native Plant Garden Intern Program for the Sacramento River Discovery Center, by providing a new and upgraded greenhouse and propagation facility for students at the center site. The construction of the greenhouse was completed with help for the Interns, volunteer community member Terry Applegate. "With the interest in plants that conserve water increasing, the new greenhouse will assist is meeting the needs of the public for both private residence landscaping and the landscaping of public sites," said Matt Pritchard, RBUHS natural resource instructor. A committee of LP facility members led by Marian Richardson, Travis Turner, Dan Ellis, Jerry Ford, Judy Heal and Brenda Joy helped the SRDC to apply for the foundation grant. The greenhouse will enable the high school interns to regularly have native and drought tolerant plants available both fall and in spring. "Until this grant, we have only been able to have a plant sale on the first Saturday in November," said Matt Pritchard. "Next year, it will become a regular part of the Watershed Celebration." The SRDC appreciates the donation of funds to purchase and set up the new greenhouse, but also the donation of wood products to help build the planting benches, tables and storage areas to keep the supplies necessary to produce increased numbers of plants. "We hope that members of the LP Red Bluff facility team will become active participants in SRDC activities," said Bobie Hughes. The Discovery Center is in the Mendocino National Forest-s Red Bluff Recreation Area at 1000 Sale Lane. The center is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and can be reached at 527-1196 or by e-mailing ccramer@tehama.k12.ca.us. The Web site is www.srdc.tehama.k12.ca.us.