Growing Food and Building Community Under Glassby Gina Harper Friends of the Capitol Conservatory is a citizens' group formed in response to the planned demolition of the Washington State Capitol Conservatory in Olympia. Efforts by the group are directed at rescuing, restoring or relocating, and re-purposing the conservatory for education, demonstration, and improvement of local food security. The Conservatory's History The conservatory is one of only five public conservatories in Washington state. It was built in 1939 with a Work Projects Administration grant. Prominent area architect Joseph Wohleb designed the structure, which has been home for nearly 70 years to more than 500 varieties of rare and exotic plants. It also served as the production greenhouse of landscape plants and floral arrangements for state facilities. More than 70,000 landscape plants were raised in the conservatory annually during the 1950s. The conservatory is included in almost all travel guides for the Olympia area. It's been a popular lunchtime retreat for area workers, and a favorite destination of visitors to the Capitol Campus. A portion of the Capitol Campus was designated in 1974 as a historic district and listed on the National Historic Register. The conservatory is located just outside the boundaries of the Capitol Historic District. It was deemed eligible in 2001 for inclusion on the register as part of the district. Application for inclusion, however, was never made. The conservatory is slated for demolition as part of a state project to build a Heritage Center. The conservatory was permanently closed in September 2008. All plants were relocated to various government buildings and offices. The conservatory now sits empty. The model for glass conservatories came from England in the latter half of the 19th Century. Conservatories were regarded as part of the civic repertoire as were libraries, ball fields, theaters, and parks, and they were built to augment and expand local horizons. Sometimes called orangeries, conservatories were originally designed to provide views of rare, exotic, and distinctly non-local plants and food crops. As we have become increasingly aware of environmental issues and dangers associated with rampant depletion of natural resources, the focus of conservatory collections has begun to shift. Displays of rare and endangered plants are now accompanied by information about plant and water conservation. Instead of tropical plants, sub-tropical, Mediterranean, and local native species that are tolerant of cooler environments and less intensive climate control are being grown. Conservatories also are working to find alternatives to fossil fuels to heat and cool the structures and to increase energy efficiency. Food was mostly sourced locally when conservatories first became popular in the United States. Most people knew intimately how their food was derived. People have since become increasingly disconnected from the sources of their food. World travel and local access to non-local foods have become commonplace. Most food travels thousands of miles from farm to table. It's not uncommon for a person to grow to adulthood without ever seeing how a potato grows or getting their hands dirty growing a single vegetable for themselves. Yet conservatory programs to promote and educate about food production are rare. A New Role for Conservatories The Cheyenne Botanical Conservatory in Wyoming is a model for what Olympia's conservatory could become. It's an excellent example of how the glass house model can be transformed to preserve natural resources, build community, and grow food. The Cheyenne Conservatory was constructed in 1977 by a nonprofit organization with an antipoverty mission. It was designed to provide food and meaningful activity for seniors year-round. It was also the nation's first building designed to use passive solar heat. A larger conservatory replaced the original structure in 1986, and the Parks and Recreation Department adopted the project. Conservatory collections include demonstration gardens, herbs, a water garden, and food crops. Surrounding grounds contain community gardens and a wheelchair-accessible orchard. Surplus food is donated to local programs for people in need. In addition to using passive solar heat, a photovoltaic system to generate solar electricity has been added to the Cheyenne Conservatory project. The conservatory produces nearly 50 percent of its own electricity, and it plans to produce 100 percent in the near future. The conservatory's mission has been expanded to add people with disabilities and at-risk youth to the seniors already working at the conservatory. Volunteers from these groups do more than 95 percent of the physical work in the conservatory and surrounding gardens. In return, they receive fresh food that they helped grow. The conservatory further supports its mission by providing the traditional services of a public garden, and growing all of the bedding plants for municipal parks and roadways.
The Future of Olympia's Conservatory The Washington State Capitol Conservatory has been a prominent landmark and visitor attraction for 70 years. Demolishing the conservatory disrespects its history. It's also wasteful of its future potential and adds mass to our already overburdened landfills. Most of the more than 300 public conservatories in the nation have experienced periods of neglect and decline. Yet citizen groups and benefactors have stepped up to save them from demolition. Many have been restored to their original splendor and purpose. The condition of the conservatory has been allowed to deteriorate. Much of the glass and metal will need to be replaced in any effort to save it. Restoring the conservatory, however, offers the opportunity to replace old and damaged materials with new products designed to maximize natural heating and cooling. Re-purposing the conservatory to grow food improves access to fresh local foods. It encourages active living and helps build community. Will we help Olympia's conservatory become a model for leadership, innovation, and commitment to the health and well being of the earth and people? Or will we just throw it away? Create the Future For more information or to get involved in efforts to rescue the conservatory, contact John O'Brien at 360-773-6805 or Ginaharper@aol.com. Gina Harper is a volunteer with Friends of the Capitol Conservatory and other organizations dedicated to protecting the environment and building human capital.
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