A greenhouse project involving Swarthmore College students, the EMIR Healing Center, and Farmer Jawn is helping families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, writes Christie Ileto for 6abc.

The 1,400-square-foot greenhouse in Montgomery County is referred to as a House of the Living.

Each glass panel is a picture telling a story of Philadelphia’s gun violence.

“The crisis in Philadelphia, there’s really nothing like this,” said Ron Tarver, Associate Professor of Art at Swarthmore College.

Tarver was inspired to create the greenhouse project during the pandemic.

” What would happen if we etched portraits of gun violence victims into the glass, with the idea that the light shining through would nurture the plants inside?” he asked.

Students made 3D models to etch the portraits into glass.

EMIR Healing in Germantown connected them with families who lost loved ones.

The idea is to remember the victims for how they lived, not how they died. ‘

The food grown in the greenhouse feeds people in marginalized communities,

“We’re able to plant in their name and also feed the city in their name. There’s nourishment and healing in that,” said Christa Barfield, CEO and Founder of Farmer Jawn.

Find out more about this unique greenhouse House of the Living at 6abc.