It’s normal to have lots of questions when you’re exploring greenhouses for schools and not always know where to find the answers.

We want your journey building a greenhouse for your school to go as smoothly as possible. That’s why we’ve gathered answers to the most common questions asked about Classroom Cultivator greenhouses for schools. We hope it saves you time searching for them.

If you don’t see your question here, we can fix that. Just reach out to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s included in the Base Package?

The Classroom Cultivator has all the capabilities of a fully functioning greenhouse. Your students will use the same tools and technology a pro-grower would use in the field to cultivate plants.

Unlike other greenhouses for schools you can purchase, the Classroom Cultivator base package has everything you need to start growing:

Structure:

• Pre-galvanized Vail structure
• Galvanized steel gutters
• Single-piece welded trusses

Glazing:

• 8mm Polycarbonate covering

Ventilation:

• Padwall vents
• Ridge vent

Equipment:

• Two (2) exhaust fans
• Evaporative pad wall cooling system
• Two (2) horizontal airflow fans
• Two (2) unit heaters
• One (1) steel double door
• Wadsworth Juniper environmental control system
• Temperature sensor
• Weather station
• Vent motors
• Double door
• Sill flashing

What optional add-ons are available?

• Stationary plant growth benches
• Automated energy/shade curtain system
• Insect screening
• Irrigation systems
• Plant growth lighting
• Wadsworth Seed control system upgrade
• Installation (includes a one-year workmanship warranty)

What’s the difference between the Juniper control system and the SEED control system upgrade?

Every Classroom Cultivator Base package includes a Wadsworth Juniper environmental controller.

The Juniper activates groups of equipment in response to the greenhouse environment, based on the environmental parameters (a.k.a, setpoints) you enter.

It is called a staged controller because it steps up the level of control in multiple stages.

You save more energy with staged controllers because your equipment isn’t turning on or off all at once. A staged approach also gives your plants time to adjust to the environmental changes without experiencing abrupt shocks.

Wadsworth designed the Juniper with classrooms in mind:

• Ready to use out of the box, or easy to customize
• Set it, forget it, and walk away
• Intuitive touchscreen suitable for all ages
• Connects via Bluetooth or the internet using your computer or phone
• Get remote access with a cloud subscription
• Tracks data for classroom experiments and projects
• Sends alerts when conditions move out of range
• Supports different crop or seasonal profile settings

If you want to take your learning or research to the next level, you can upgrade to the Wadsworth Seed controller, which offers expanded features and flexibility.

The Seed is ideal for STEM lessons on plant science, engineering, and sustainability:

• Expands to control multiple greenhouses at once
• Manages heating, cooling, lighting, and irrigation
• Built-in weather station for real-time outdoor data
• Choose what sensor info you want to see
• Easy, user-friendly touchscreen interface
• Connect with phone, computer, or tablet
• Sends alerts when conditions move out of range
• Flexible setup to fit your layout and goals

How easy are the controls to use for teachers and students?

Teachers and students of all ages will find the Juniper controller and the Seed controller upgrade easy to use.

Both controllers have straightforward, user-friendly touchscreens and menu layouts that make navigation a breeze. The user-interface stays the same across all platforms.

You can move from a high-level view (multiple zones/greenhouses) to an individual equipment screen with just a few taps.

What about watering plants over weekends, holidays, or breaks?

If you tie irrigation into your controls, you can set the controller to trigger an irrigation event on any day(s) or time(s) you choose.

Then relax. Your plants are in good hands, so enjoy your well-earned break.

You can also link irrigation to a variety of sensors to analyze soil, measure soil moisture, etc. 

When is the best time to get a greenhouse manufacturer/supplier involved in my project?

You’ll find your greenhouse project goes smoother and faster if you have collaboration between your manufacturer, architect, and general contractor as early as possible.

But before you spend too much money on a general contractor or architect, bring your greenhouse manufacturer/supplier on board.

They can provide design specifications that outline the structure size, type, materials, and load requirements for your greenhouse. Your architect needs these details to design your greenhouse correctly.

Otherwise, they may come up with something that looks great on paper, but it can’t be built within the manufacturer’s capabilities. This can result in costly and time-consuming rework on the overall plans.

Will I receive stamped drawings eligible for my state and locality?

Every Classroom Cultivator base package comes with a set of stamped drawings that meet your state and local requirements.

The engineers provide guidance on the foundation and column reaction-force calculations for the foundation. They analyze every member of your structure and demonstrate that it meets structural load requirements for your specific site.

Whatever your wind ratings, snow ratings, or seismic ratings might be, they’ll stamp those sets of plans as part of the submittal package.

Then, your general contractor or architect typically handles the submittal to your local building department. They’ll be the ones who coordinate all the comment reviews.

If you are receiving some type of funding for your school greenhouse and this is a publicly bid project, we can provide specifications for the Classroom Cultivator that you can put into your bid documents.

What about permitting greenhouses for schools?

Greenhouses for schools always require permits from your local building department. Check with your local permitting office to get accurate pricing for the necessary permits that may be required for your project. If you use a general contractor, they will handle this for you.

Can I purchase a Classroom Cultivator and install it myself, or does Prospiant need to install it?

You can purchase the Classroom Cultivator as a kit that a party of your choice puts together, or Prospiant offers installation services. 

For installation, the Prospiant crew works with your general contractor (GC) to achieve a seamless construction schedule. All our work crews are licensed, bonded, and insured.

Your GC needs to complete the following before our crew arrives on-site:

• Concrete pads
• Footings
• Underground mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) work

Once the Prospiant crew arrives on-site, they construct the structure and install the glazing system, as well as set up all equipment. 

Afterward, MEP crews (under the direction of your GC) return for final connections and inspections of their work scope before start-up and commissioning.

How long does installation usually take?

Our crew can typically complete your greenhouse within six weeks from the time they arrive on-site.

What about start-up and set-up?

If Prospiant installs your Classroom Cultivator, we reserve the final week for start-up and commissioning.

Our team explains the control system and other equipment operation to your end-user and goes over any questions you may have. A team member from Wadsworth will also be present to go over the control system.

Start planning your school greenhouse today. We can help. Contact us at [email protected].