Trash to Treasure at Greenhouse School

Trash to Treasure at Greenhouse School

Amid the swarm of new ideas meant to capture the public's imagination in combatting global warming, kids, staff and parents at The Greenhouse School have been quietly plugging away for years, turning recycled waste paper into beautiful handmade cards and other items.

"It was a natural thing for us," says Director Dan Welch. We run on an extremely tight budget, so we're always trying to reuse whatever we can." Part science project, part recycling, part fundraising, the idea took root more than ten years ago. Grinding up old paper to make into beautiful new cards was just one more way to turn trash into treasure. The cards, bookmarks, invitations, gift tags, ornaments and other products are then sold as a fundraiser for the independent alternative school in Salem, MA.

"At one point we were selling these cards in shops from Alaska to Maine to Florida," Welch says. Even a restauranteur in Virginia comissioned a set of menu covers made from the school's handmade paper. "There was a neat little store in Boston, where our cards were sitting next to hand carved items being sold for thousands of dollars. It was quite a rush," adds Welch.

Over the years, newer projects took precedence, some of the shops went out of business, and the school was making less paper. But that is about to change. Assistant Director Julia Nambalirwa-Lugudde wants to set up a school store where the paper creations, along with handmade soap, jewelry and other handcrafted items from within the school community can help raise much needed funds for programs. "We make some incredible stuff--we want to display it more, highlight the special things we do, and raise funds at the same time."

Staff and parents at the Salem school have long made things to sell at school fairs, like many schools. But there is a different flair, as there is with many projects the school takes on. "The idea of trash to treasure is such a great one," says Welch. "And with the new emphasis on environmental concerns it's a perfect time to ramp it up again."

The school has also been applying for grants to turn its greenhouse structure to its advantage, by way of a solar roof that would create energy from the sun. "We've had that in the pipeline for some time," Welch notes, "but again, this is a time when it just might become a reality."

Asked whether the handmade paper project could help fund the solar roof, Welch laughs. "That would be the ultimate recycling project, wouldn't it?" But the real goal is to teach the kids about sustainable production issues and raise a small amount of money for the school. The school will be looking again to market the cards in upscale shops, and produce a small catalogue of items available. The catalogue will be available by contacting the school at

ENDS

© Scoop Media