(July 3, 2013) – The State Highway Administration (SHA) donated more than 5,000 linear feet, or approximately $6,000 worth of aluminum from old road signs to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to build a complex of greenhouses, a native tree nursery and a 5,000 gallon water storage unit in Frostburg, Allegany County.  Additionally, SHA crews helped with excavating land where the greenhouses now stand on the Frostburg State University campus.

“The contribution of material has been invaluable to this project. Reusing old signs has saved the project considerable resources,” said DNR Program Manager for Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund Water Quality Monitoring Paul Kazyak.  “SHA’s assistance with earthmoving has been a huge help to the project as well."

 

 

“This partnership exemplifies the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle,” said Melinda B. Peters, SHA Administrator.  “We are excited to continue to use old materials for new, greener concepts that help communities learn to grow life-supporting food and avoid the release of carbon into the environment that would have occurred if the signs were sent to a scrap yard for re-melting.”

 

 

 

Supporting Frostburg State University’s Frostburg Grows Program, the donated material is used to build a five acre complex of greenhouses, including a shade house and a composting facility. This facility will be a valuable community resource, providing job training and serving as a research center to optimize growing methods for food production and native plants for reforestation, permaculture and traditional Appalachian cultural uses. Partners for the project include DNR, Frostburg University, George’s Creek Watershed Association and the University Of Maryland College Of Agriculture And Natural Resources.  Additionally, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and American Rivers awarded a $300,000 grant to the program spring 2012.

For more information about Frostburg Grows, click here.

###​