The high school greenhouse is located outside the main floor of the Trade and Health academy, and is home to many different types of plant-life throughout the year. However, it seems that a majority of students have never even been inside the greenhouse, or enrolled in one of the classes that utilizes this valuable resource.
“I teach Plant and Soil Science, which is a class we primarily work in the greenhouse with.” Cade Anderson, teacher of Plant & Soil Science,in the Trade Academy said. “What we’ve been doing lately is gearing up for the plant sale, and right now we have some starter vegetables and some ornamental plants, like flowers. What we do in the greenhouse kind of depends on the day.” Greenhouse activities are educational, engaging, and full of variety. “Sometimes we do something that relates to a lesson, like today we’re doing water-holding capacity, and experimenting with different types of soils in the greenhouse like in a lab. Sometimes we are just planting and cleaning up. I think it’s just good for the students to be outside instead of in the classroom listening to me lecture. I would definitely recommend it to students who like interactive activities and getting their hands dirty.”
Incoming freshmen should be made aware that classes involving the greenhouse can be taken in the first year at the high school, and the activities and experiments can be similar to those one might only experience in their sophomore and junior years.
“I teach Intro to Agriculture, which is ideally for freshmen, and this is my only class where we go up to the greenhouse,” Elizabeth Huck, Ag. teacher said. “We don’t use it as much as Plant & Soil Science but we will be using it here at the end of the semester. Last year we used the greenhouse to study germination and what substances help seeds sprout the quickest, we tried everything from egg yolks to Monster energy drinks. We also study things like time to germination and when things sprout, as well as propagation and how we produce new plants. If students in my class really enjoy the plant science unit and the greenhouse activities I typically encourage them to take Plant & Soil Science the following year.”
Some students are discouraged from these types of classes because they believe that they are more for individuals with agricultural experience, but it should be noted that these classes are for everyone and can be very enriching, as well as a good way to knock out a science elective.
“We usually are in the greenhouse at least once a week, focusing on the plants and where they’re at,” Tyara Wright, Trade, Sophomore, said. “I would recommend it if you need a science credit. Anderson is a very good teacher, and anybody can get into it as long as you’re focused in school. My favorite part is definitely going to the greenhouse and doing the hands-on stuff.”
