Food Justice Northwest Aurora Reaches a New Greenhouse Milestone

Food Justice Northwest Aurora reached a new milestone by finalizing a Land Lease Agreement with Parkview Congregational Church to build the Cultivate Aurora Greenhouse! 

Parkview Church’s vision is to “serve as a vital growing force for life, love, hope, peace, justice, and reconciliation.” Their alignment with FJNWA’s work is evident in the congregation’s commitment to food access and food sovereignty: the congregation hosts a food pantry, a 20-plot Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) Community Garden and a Food Forest, as well as four hydroponic grow towers. 

Securing access to this parcel is the first step towards building the Cultivate Aurora Greenhouse. FJNWA’s Greenhouse Manager, Jenna Smith, is working to move the project through planning and permitting, utility connections, design, and construction. The projected completion date is late 2026! 

The Cultivate Aurora Community Greenhouse is centered on a shared vision to: 

🌱Grow culturally relevant, climate-resilient, food-producing plant starts and perennials for Aurora’s residents, farms, organizations, and small food retailers. 

👩🏻‍🏫 Provide hands-on education and training about gardening, urban agriculture, and food production to Aurora’s residents through intergenerational and peer-led programming. 

👩🏽‍🌾 Create year-round and seasonal jobs and offer workforce training. 

💚 Prioritize distribution to Northwest Aurora community members through strategic partnerships, plant sales, school programs, and more.