Something Remarkable Is Growing in Downtown Billings

If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like when education, sustainability, and community all come together in one place, this is it. St. John’s United in Billings has officially crossed a major finish line with its downtown Urban Horticulture Education Center greenhouse, thanks to a $195,000 grant that helped make the space fully off the grid and self-sustaining.

The Final Step That Made the Greenhouse Fully Self-Sustaining

St. John’s United recently received funding from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust to complete critical electrical upgrades needed to install solar panels. That final step allows the greenhouse to operate independently using clean, renewable energy. In other words, it now powers itself. And that’s not just cool in theory, it’s a big deal for long-term sustainability and learning opportunities right here in Billings.

How Community Support Helped This Project Take Root

This greenhouse didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t built alone. Previous grants and donations from Billings Public Schools, the C. M. Bair Charitable Trust, Sibanye Stillwater, The Northern Hotel, Northwestern Energy, and other private donors helped launch the project. That early support paid for major pieces like a custom rainwater collection system designed by architect Randy Hafer of Northern Plains Architects. It’s a reminder that when a community invests together, something really special can grow.

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A High-Tech Way to Grow More With Less

So what makes this greenhouse different? It uses aeroponic farming, a cutting-edge method where plants grow in vertical towers without soil or pesticides. These systems use 95 percent less water and 90 percent less space than traditional farming. Inside the greenhouse are 50 commercial-grade aeroponic towers, each capable of growing 52 plants. The entire operation is powered by 79 solar panels. Water comes from seven massive rainwater barrels that each hold 1,100 gallons, providing clean water year-round. It’s efficient, smart, and designed for the future.

A Classroom Where Learning Is Hands-On and Comes to Life

This project was born out of a public-private partnership between St. John’s United and the Billings Public Schools Career and Technical Education program. And the impact goes far beyond growing fresh produce. Middle and high school students use the greenhouse weekly as an interactive classroom. Elementary schools bring every fourth-grade class for hands-on growing and harvesting field trips in the fall and spring. The space also supports Special Education and Future Ready students on an individual basis. Learning here isn’t abstract; it’s real. Students can see it, touch it, and eventually eat it.

Where Students and Seniors Learn Side by Side

One of the most meaningful parts of this greenhouse is how it brings generations together. Students often work alongside St. John’s United resident volunteers, creating connections that benefit everyone involved. Greenhouse Manager Megan Cassell says students learn everything from urban farming techniques and aeroponics to rainwater collection and solar energy. These are skills they can take home and apply immediately.

Connecting Classroom Lessons to Real-World Skills

According to Bo Bruinsma, Career and Technical Education Director for Billings Public Schools, the partnership gives students hands-on experiences that connect classroom lessons to real-world applications like growing fresh greens. Those experiences matter, especially when it comes to preparing students for life after graduation.

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Growing More Than Food: A Mission Put Into Action

David Trost, CEO of St. John’s United, says this greenhouse may be the most creative example of the organization’s mission in action. It nurtures residents through fresh food, students through education, and the broader community through sustainable practices. That mission is central to everything St. John’s United does, from childcare and counseling to housing, health care, and hospice services. This greenhouse just happens to grow more than plants. It grows opportunity, connection, and hope.