In an effort to produce cleaner, fresher food for the birds who call Marden’s Ark their home, we have installed several raised beds, added a robust automated drip irrigation system, and turned the large front “yard” into a food oasis for healthy produce.

We’re raising funds to buy a greenhouse kit, put in a foundation with appropriate drainage but still allowing for insect exclusion. The kit has great reviews, is sturdy, has FOUR layer polycarbonate panels for insulation (this will be heated in winter), and offers windows which we will adapt to fit screens to further keep bugs OUT so that our plants are protected without using chemicals.

The kit is the Bellerose XL 13×11 Bellerose XL 13×11′ greenhouse which is currently priced at $4,999.00. We looked at prebuilts and found most were NOT well insulated, and had vents rather than windows – harder to adapt screens. We estimate a foundation will cost between $3-5,000, depending on how we build it. We’re estimating the water and power to run around $1,000, so we estimate that we will need to raise around $10,000 to complete this project.

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Why the Bellerose XL Greenhouse is the Right Choice for Marden’s Ark

🛡️ 1. Superior Durability

• Wind rating up to 100 mph
• Snow load up to 9,200 lbs (XL model)
  This isn’t just for mild-weather gardening — it’s built to last in unpredictable storms or cold snaps, which means less risk for sponsors.

🌡️ 2. 4-Wall Polycarbonate Panels

• +30% heat retention vs twin-wall
• Better insulation = lower heating costs, and a more stable growing environment for year-round production of greens and microgreens.

🌿 3. Built-in Passive & Powered Ventilation

• Comes with temperature-controlled exhaust fans, roof vents, and can easily be upgraded with screen kits.
• Screens = protection from insect damage (especially important for delicate crops like microgreens, which can be ruined by aphids or fungus gnats).

🔌 4. Electrical and Water Integration

• PowerPort (standard outlets + USB) and hose hook-ups make it ready for grow lights, fans, heated mats, and irrigation.
• Reduces the need for messy extension cords and hoses — safer and easier to manage.

👀 5. Tour-Friendly Aesthetic

• Natural cedar construction with pergola-style entry = visually appealing, making it perfect for:
• Public tours
• Donor appreciation events
• Volunteer photo ops
• Press and media releases

By having water, power, and heat, it will allow us to grow greens and microgreens in the winter, as well as overwinter potted mulberry bushes and the potted patio fig bush. It will also give us enough room to start our own plants from seeds, without the need for purchasing plants, so that we can be 100% sure that NO CHEMICALS will be sprayed on them at any time, as well as saving a significant amount of money.

This year has been a huge success so far with the birds feasting on fresh cucumbers, squash, peppers, beets and beet greens, cilantro, edible flowers, blueberries, various kinds of lettuces, and yummy cantaloupe and watermelons. It’s cut our grocery bills way down and keeping our food supply free of any pesticides. Later in the season we will have muscadine grapes and pumpkins! (Pumpkins are always a huge hit here – including the seeds!)

If you are interested in sponsoring this project, here are the sponsorships available.

Sponsorship Packages

Tier	Contribution	Major Benefits
Gold	$8,000+	Full naming rights for the greenhouse, logo on building visible from road, 4 event features, social media campaign, name AND logo prominently on campaign t-shirts.
Silver	$3,500	Secondary naming (e.g., smaller sign/logo on green house building, raised bed garden signage featuring logo), 2 event features, social media mentions, name AND logo on campaign t-shirts.
Bronze	$2,500	Banner inclusion, logo on volunteer materials, 1 event feature, social media mentions, name AND logo on campaign t-shirts.

Plus in-kind opportunities: kit materials, labor, irrigation, heating, etc.

Any amounts raised over the cost of the greenhouse will be used to improve and maintain the garden project.