Lynchburg Grows, a non-profit corporation which operates 9 greenhouses in Lynchburg, Va., suffered extensive structural damage caused by heavy snowstorms in December and January. Television station WDBJ7 reported that snow collapsed the glass roof on several of the houses and caused the support posts to bend. Micha Duda at Lynchburg Grows told the station that he estimated the greenhouses lost 2,000 lb. of glass.
The greenhouses, which were built in 1919, were part of a commercial cut rose operation that closed in 1998. No significant renovations have been made to the structures since the business closed.
Television station WSLS10 reported that the organization is currently conducting a capital campaign to raise money to convert one of the greenhouses to an aquaponics facility. The goal of the campaign is $100,000, which will qualify the project for a grant worth an additional $50,000.