Page 18 - Hillview_book

The Hillview Urban Agriculture Center
Beginning of a New Era for the Hillview Greenhouse
By Vicki Miller, Hillview Urban Agriculture Center
The good work continued. Experience Works employee
Fritz Fayerweather, who had worked for Hillview Greenhouse Life Center, continued working after LFFH took over operations. Fritz was in charge
of growing, weeding and harvesting produce that went to local food pantries and was sold at
the People’s Food Co-op. Fritz also took care of day-to-day operations, later continuing on as a dedicated volunteer. Here, Fritz is shown with harvested basil and cherry tomatoes that were donated to a local food pantry.
On August 17, 2010, a $25,000 grant was awarded to LFFH (left to right) Dr. Tom Klemond, president, Hillview Greenhouse Life Center; Vicki Miller, vice president, LFFH; Dr. Joe Kotnour, board member, Hillview Greenhouse Life Center; Leanne Hedberg Carlson, president, LFFH; Sara Sullivan, LFFH board member; Sheila Garrity, LCF executive director; and Barb and Dave Erickson, Chad Erickson Memorial Fund.
I
n June 2010, the Hillview Greenhouse Life Center found itself at a crossroads. Unable to continue, the board voted to suspend opera-
a week. In August 2010, the group was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Chad Erickson Memo- rial Fund–La Crosse Community Foundation Bridging Grant and the Dr. David L. and Sacia B. Morris Family Foundation to allow LFFH time to develop a business plan. With an expanded vi- sion, LFFH changed its name to Hillview Urban Agriculture Center.
VISIONARY LEADER
Leanne Hedberg Carlson, MBA, was one of the individuals who came to the public meeting on June 30, 2010. Leanne, who at the time taught organizational behavior at Viterbo University, envisioned the greenhouse as an opportunity to create a local, sustainable and accessible food system for all people in the La Crosse area.
She was elected president of LFFH (which later became the Hillview Urban Agriculture Center) and led the organization until December 2013. Hillview would not be here today without her tireless dedication and visionary leadership.
Other community members who helped
save the Hillview Greenhouse in the early years and beyond are listed on Hillview’s website at HillviewUAC.org.
tions, leaving the fate of the Life Center up in the air. Life Center president Dr. Tom Klemond and other board members were hopeful that a person, organization and/or coalition would step in to save Hillview Greenhouses.
On Sunday, June 27, 2010, an article written by Joe Orso, titled “Help Save Hillview Green- house,” appeared in the La Crosse Tribune an- nouncing a public meeting to be held for anyone who might have interest in “stepping forward and breathing life back into it.” Approximately
60 community members attended the meeting, with 11 individuals com- mitting to do what they could to save the greenhouse. The group, which named itself La Crosse’s Food Future: At Hillview (LFFH), began meeting once
THE LA CROSSE AREA’S GROWING EXPERIENCE past | present | future
16
2010–present
PHOTO: Vicki Miller
PHOTO: Vicki Miller