named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Children's Learning Garden
Educational garden space with pollinator habitat, raised beds, play areas, and learning stations designed for children ages 3-5 through youth, including the 'Little Diggers' program
Greenhouse Infrastructure Improvements
Ongoing program to repair and upgrade greenhouse systems including boilers, climate control, glass panels, and security
New Teaching Greenhouse
24’ x 48’ year-round, handicap-accessible greenhouse for expanded horticultural education and plant production
Produce Wash and Prep Station
Facility for processing and cleaning over 10,000 pounds of produce annually, promoting Good Agricultural Practices and food safety education
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Campus Construction and Renovation Projects 1 activity
- Construction and development at Sustainable Living CenterCompletes construction and infrastructure projects at the Sustainable Living Center, including building a 24’ x 48’ teaching greenhouse, a 12’ x 24’ vegetable wash and prep station, a permanent storage building, and installing solar-powered composting toilets and water filtration systems.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Facility maintenance and improvement at greenhouse complexConducts ongoing maintenance and capital improvements to the Schenectady Central Park Greenhouse complex and the historic Charles Steinmetz Greenhouse, including repairs to structures, fencing, electrical systems, boilers, and security systems. Projects include replacing outdated heating systems, installing new flooring, and adding secure storage and security systems.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Gardening, planting, and ecological enhancementPerforms regular gardening and maintenance activities such as weeding, raking, hauling, and planting. Also conducts ecological improvement projects, including planting native trees for pollinator habitats as part of the Pollinator Pathway initiative.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Organizing plant sales and community eventsHosts recurring plant sales and community events, including annual spring and fall plant sales, preview parties, and raffles, to support fundraising efforts. Events have included donated art raffles and Days of Service involving volunteers in garden work.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$41K
Contributions & grants$41K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$21K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$82K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$82K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +128.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 3
- David Siders — Director
- Roxanne Hill — Director
- Sean OBrien — Director
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Active Solar Development Partner — Volunteered to install solar panels powering the composting toilet facility.
- Carlilian Foundation Funder — Provided multiple grants for capital improvements including boiler replacement, fencing, and children’s garden enhancements.
- City of Schenectady Partner — Collaborates on repair, maintenance, and development of the Sustainable Living Center Greenhouses.
- City of Schenectady Partner — Collaborates with the City of Schenectady to maintain and operate the Schenectady Central Park Greenhouse complex.
- City of Schenectady Partner — Partners on capital improvement projects, site preparation, electrical work, paving, and facility maintenance at the Sustainable Living Center.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Collaborates with Friends of the Greenhouse to deliver educational programming at the Schenectady Central Park Greenhouses.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Schenectady County Partner — Collaborates on maintaining and improving greenhouses, educational programs, and infrastructure projects at the Sustainable Living Center.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension, Schenectady County Partner — Partnership to support use of greenhouses for educational programs including Master Gardeners and Harvest Share.
- Mohawk Heating Co. Inc. Partner — Contractor that removed the old boiler and installed the new high-efficiency propane water boiler in Greenhouse 1.
- Morton Building Inc. Partner — Constructed the new permanent storage building at the Sustainable Living Center in 2021.
- National Grid Partner — Partnered with Schenectady Soil and Water Conservation District to contribute native trees for the Pollinator Pathway.
- Roots and Wisdom Partner — Collaborated on the creation of a bluebird painting at the greenhouse.
- William Gundry Broughton Foundation Funder — Provided grant funding for children’s garden projects at the Sustainable Living Center.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Experiential Environmental Educationmethodology: experiential_environmental_educationBy designing pollinator habitats and interactive garden spaces, the organization fosters environmental stewardship and therapeutic engagement because hands-on, sensory-rich experiences deepen learning and emotional connection to nature.
- Infrastructure as Shared Community Resourcemethodology: infrastructure_maintenance_for_production_and_educationBy maintaining and upgrading greenhouse infrastructure, the organization enables expanded food production and education because shared, reliable facilities increase partner capacity and community access to programming.