DECATUR, Ga. – In celebration of Earth Day 2016, Lou Walker Senior Center (LWSC) members are excited to be the first senior center in the United States to receive the Acopia Harvest Hydroponic
Green Machine. The Green Machine is a system that uses specialized nutrients, water, and lights to grow a variety of organic or traditional leafy vegetables with multiple and continuous production year round. This can take place regardless of outside climate conditions and even extends the daily growing periods, when appropriate, by utilizing both daylight and artificial light.
The official unveiling and dedication of the “Green Machine” will take place on Friday, April 22, 2016 from 10 a.m. to noon in the LWSC Victory Room, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia, GA 30058.
The device occupies as little as four square feet of space and a double level machine can yield up to 64 plants, year-round. The Green Machine will serve the LWSC nutrition and gardening program.
“We are proud of the team at the Lou Walker Senior Center for continuing to promote DeKalb County as a clean, green, safe and thriving community,” said Interim CEO Lee May.
The donation is part of the “We Have a Dream” program developed by Irving A. Backman, philanthropist and entrepreneur for the advancement of earth-friendly technologies, The National Institute for Environmental Sustainability and Training (NIEST) and Acopia Harvest. To mark the four-year countdown to Earth Day’s fiftieth anniversary in 2020, this partnership has selected the LWSC to join more than one billion “Green Champions” in celebration of Earth Day.
This event is open to the public, with a variety of activities that include:
- A special rain barrel demonstration by Michael O’Shield of DeKalb County Watershed Management
- An innovative way to recycle plastic bags
- A special presentation by the LWSC Toastmasters Club
- DeKalb’s Green Focus by DeKalb County’s Sanitation Department
- Onsite electric car demo
- Recycling sign-up program
In the past, the Lou Walker group has grown more than 10,000 lbs. of food which they donate to a local food bank. The LWSC Garden Club is a one-of-a-kind senior program which promotes good nutrition and farm to table food production.
The Lou Walker Senior Center is a 40,000 square foot multipurpose facility for active senior adults age 55 and older, focused on healthy lifestyles and the interests of today’s active older adults.