About

The Friends of the Greenhouse Inc. is a non profit whose mission is to assist the City of Schenectady and Cornell Cooperative Extension in repairing, maintaining, and growing the Sustainable Living Center.

Mission Statement
To assist and support the maintenance,
development and promotion of
Schenectady Central Park Greenhouse
and the surrounding park space;
to preserve the historic integrity of
the Charles Steinmetz Greenhouse;
to support the City of Schenectady
and Cornell Cooperative Extension,
Schenectady County (CCE, SC)
in providing the public with the
highest quality plant care complex in support
of educational and horticultural
programs for the benefit
of City of Schenectady and
County of Schenectady residents, CCE, SC
and others who use this facility

Schenectady, like many municipalities faced with limited financial resources, has struggled to maintain its parks and recreational areas. Numerous volunteer groups have organized to save neglected areas under the city’s initiative “Adopt a Public Space.”

The Friends of the Greenhouse, Inc. (FOGH) formed in 2015 to help with the repair and maintenance issues of the Sustainable Living Center Greenhouses located in Central Park. Working in partnership with the City of Schenectady, FOGH was able to coordinate the replacement of over 30 glass panels in the greenhouses that were missing, cracked or broken and help with heating costs. This has allowed Cornell Cooperative Extension, Schenectady County (CCE, SC) to utilize the greenhouses for growing plants and vegetables used in the Master Gardeners educational programs and the Roots and Wisdom’s Harvest Share Program.

FOGH has identified a number of initiatives that need to be addressed over the next decade, which include improved handicap accessibility; construction of storage sheds for tools and equipment; introduction of pollinator-friendly plants, shrubs and trees into the display gardens; and more signage to facilitate the learning experience for all visitors to the center.

Through the annual plant sales in May and September, grant writing and other fundraising activities, FOGH plans to assist the city and CCE, SC in developing the Sustainable Living Center into a Horticultural Education Center that will greatly benefit our community.

Who We Are

President, Janet Chen
Vice President, Kathy Harter
Treasurer, Pam Pearlman
Secretary, Maggie Brown
Communications Officer, Elyse Brown
Director, Sean O’Brien
Director, David Siders
Director, Cynthia Shultz
Past President, Chuck Thorne