Master Gardeners Celebrate Greenhouse Grand Opening
Pima County Cooperative Extension held a grand opening for the new Master Gardener Greenhouse on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The event began with a brief program featuring U of A speakers celebrating the partnerships that brought the greenhouse construction project to fruition. Ed Martin, Director of the Arizona Cooperative Extension System, said, “This greenhouse is more than a structure; it’s a symbol of commitment to people, learning, sustainability, and the future of this community.” Following the program and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, several representatives from the Master Gardener program hosted greenhouse tours and games for attendees, with plants as prizes.
Funding for the greenhouse construction came from public donors through plant sales and fundraisers over the course of several years. Notably, Curtis Jones, U of A alum and Cooperative Extension supporter, donated $150,000 to ensure completion of the structure and supporting systems.
Every detail incorporated into the new facility has been designed to support education, sustainability, and community outreach. The greenhouse is divided into climate zones to nurture different plants, an external weather system sends data to four environment control systems, and retractable sunshades help manage the internal light and heat levels. Water efficiency is a top priority in the greenhouse, which features a reverse-osmosis system. Starting with well water, the system filters out metals, chemicals, harmful microorganisms, and salts, producing pure water. This filtration system operates at 85% efficiency. Filtered water goes to sensitive young greenhouse plants, while the remaining 15% is mixed with clean water and distributed to outside garden areas with hardier plants.
The Pima County Master Gardener program is a U of A Cooperative Extension initiative that trains volunteers to provide research-based horticultural information to the community through classes and events. These volunteers bring together education and community by offering tours, answering plant and garden questions, and donating thousands of pounds of fresh produce to community programs. Master gardeners demonstrate the principles of sustainable agriculture, efficient water use, soil health, and harmony between people and the Sonoran Desert. Said Celeste Gambill, Pima County Master Gardener Program Manager, “This greenhouse ushers in a new chapter for the Master Gardener program. Not only will it help generate revenue, 100% of which goes back into our program, but it also expands our ability to educate the public about sustainable practices.”