When entering into the town of Utica from Highway 18, soon after you pass the Pit Stop gas station, you see a building peeking across the horizon as you turn the curve to Curtis Road. As you get closer to the structure you realize this structure, the first new construction on Main Street in many years, is an 1800 square foot climate controlled, fully automated greenhouse.
This structure welcomes you to the Sipp Culture Community Farm and into the town of Utica. Sitting right next to the Town of Utica Community Center, the greenhouse is part of 17 acres of green-space leased from the Hinds County School District by Sipp Culture. This building has been in the works for some time, but we had to adjust our timing and location due to the pandemic disrupting supply chains and escalating prices of materials.
Local tradesmen helped the Sipp Culture Team 17 prepare the land for the educator series greenhouse. Breaking ground began with CR Construction with the removal of old field debris and creating a smooth pad with forty loads of dirt, to prep for the concrete slab. Robert Ferguson and his crew laid the foundation and Erik Franklin installed the electrical lines before the building installation crew came in and spent 10 days constructing the frame and irrigation system. Â
This building will create the ability for Sipp Culture to maximize the growing season, getting a jumpstart on the spring planting by starting our seeds indoors long before the last frost. It also allows us space to grow starter plants for our community.Â
It is important that our community can participate in realizing the development of resources made for our own health and wellness. We look forward to the many years of this facility being in service to the community of Utica. If you are in the area, please stop by and pay us a visit.
