Â
Sunburst Unlimited, Inc
Â
Working & teaching in Cascade & Chouteau counties since 1998.Â
Contact information:
Mike Dalton, Executive Director
Phone: 406-952-1788
Email: mjandmichael@gmail.comÂ
Mike Dalton, Executive Director
Phone: 406-952-1788
Email: mjandmichael@gmail.comÂ
Â
21ST CENTURY SUSTAINABILITY WORKING AND GROWING IN
CHOUTEAU AND CASCADE COUNTIES
Â
Sunburst Unlimited, Inc., a local nonprofit organization focused on sustainability projects and education have begun the transformation of a 70 year old chicken coop into a 21st century year-round greenhouse model and education center. This project is “in the works” in conjunction with Don Sorenson, owner of the Virgelle Mer-cantile in Virgelle, MT (http://virgellemontana.com) .
Based on a model that the Russians constructed in the 1960’s which now provides produce year round to over 80 Moscow grocery stores, the Virgelle Greenhouse and Education Center’s transformation began in April of this year.
On June 13th, a new 1000 sq. ft. tin roof was installed by a volunteer team comprised of civilian employees of Rivet Mile Maintenance Group, Malmstrom AFB, Sunburst Unlimited Executive Board members and friends. All materials for the project were donated by local area businesses in Great Falls and Havre. Next on the greenhouse remodeling list is the electrical wiring, which will be installed by the members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 233. Eventually all the heat and electricity will be provided by solar and wind power.
Also in May, Sunburst taught their first worm composting and raised garden bed class to 8 youngsters and 5 adults in Virgelle. Each child took home his/her own Red Wiggler Worm Kit to start composting the family’s “green waste”.
Sunburst Unlimited is no stranger to this area. Founded in 1998 by Mike Dalton and Mary Jane Ahrendes, Sunburst worked with the BLM and area volunteers in restoring the river banks of the Wild and Scenic Mis-souri River Corridor from Coal Banks Landing to Judith Landing planting cottonwood and green ash seedlings and saplings.Â
Â
“Imagine reading the
River Press, the Havre Daily Press or the Great Falls Tribune in the near future and seeing a satellite picture taken at 1am in mid-January, detecting light and heat radiating out of “nowhere” in north central Montana. Could it be the Virgelle Greenhouse and Education Center? Yes it could.” Â
Â
Sunburst Unlimited and Virgelle Mercantile are anxious and excited to share their knowledge of local self sus-tainability with all neighbors and communities in hopes they too will reclaim their old out-buildings and bring their communities together by “growing their own.”Â
Mary Jane Ahrendes
Michael Dalton
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â