Manager has vision for greenhouse

A look inside the newly opened community greenhouse reveals little more than rows of naked tables made of gray steel lined neatly under rows of the same gray, metal rods.

But that's not what Ray Saliga sees.

When the manager for the Greenhouse Project looks around, he sees flower baskets hanging from the rods on the ceiling, the flowers so plush and full that the baskets need to hang 2 feet apart.

He sees plump, red tomatoes sagging from green stalks that climb trellises along the north wall.

He can see peppers, lettuce, cucumbers - and he knows where they'll be.

"I've spent enough time with Excel spreadsheets, I've got it down," he said. "I know how it will look."

After earning a degree in biology with an emphasis on plant science last year from Michigan Technological University, he went to an adviser for a letter of recommendation for a job he was considering. Instead, she suggested he check out a job opening in Carson City to manage the Greenhouse Project, a community greenhouse on the Carson High School campus.

"This sounded a lot more interesting," Saliga said.

Growing up in the suburbs, Saliga said, he had limited exposure to agriculture.

He went to college with the intention of majoring in biomedical engineering, but found himself less interested in engineering and more interested in biology - specifically, plants.

He found his true passion when he planted his first garden at his fraternity.

He hopes to give Carson City youths the opportunity he never had to be exposed to growing and harvesting earlier in life.

"I want to make it multi-disciplinary," he said. "We can make this work for a lot of different students."

For now, he's working several days a week with special-needs students, planting 1,700 lettuce seeds already this week.

"They were really enthusiastic," he said. "They're really excited to get in here."

Agriculture and plant-science students will be integral in the planting and harvesting process.

"I plan to ease them into taking over certain aspects of the greenhouse," he said. "I can kind of step back. I'll just be there to make sure things go smoothly."

About 10 percent of the harvest will be used in the Carson High School culinary arts class. The remainder will go to local food banks or be sold at farmers markets in town.

In addition to the flower baskets that will be hung downtown, single cut flowers will also be available for sale.

Saliga will coordinate volunteers who want to help in the greenhouse or selling the products.

"The idea is to get as many students and community members involved as possible," he said.

BKOUT