DANIELSON — Logee’s Greenhouses celebrated its 125th year in business this past June and is keeping up with the times. Logee’s was founded in 1892, 13 years after the invention of Thomas Edison’s light bulb and one year before the first American automobile. During the 1900s electricity became a commodity that was in high demand and expensive.

“My grandfather, was in the horse and buggy era and never would have believed that all of Logee’s electrical needs would now be generated by the sun,” says Byron Martin, third generation owner of Logee’s.

“We want to do our part for the planet and decrease the demand for energy through energy efficiency improvements,” says Laurelynn Martin, the other owner of Logee’s. “Seven years earlier, we had built an energy efficient greenhouse that transformed how we did business, now with the solar panels, we will be able to continue on this path to truly becoming green.”

The purchase of Logee’s solar panels was made possible through technical assistance provided by the CT RC&D’s CT Farm Energy Program in applying for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant which partially funded the 47.26 kW roof mounted system. Logee’s system includes 139 solar panels creating enough electricity to power 5.5 homes annually.

Logee’s Greenhouses, is a local horticultural company that ships plants nationally. They are open year-round and specialize in fruiting, rare and tropical plants for the home and garden. They have a retail store, where they sell plants to the end consumer. Nationally known, Logee’s has attracted visitors from all over the country including Martha Stewart who frequents Logee’s annually.