Freshman year, I found out that my high school greenhouse wasn’t being used. I learned that there was an agriculture program but they cleared out the textbooks and did away with the aquaponic tanks. This news led me to propose to the school board a project to revitalize the greenhouse.
Upon approval, I worked closely with teachers and Solar Innovations, a local greenhouse manufacturer, to develop a plan and wish list of materials to bring the greenhouse back to working order. The pandemic halted much of our work on-site, but it did not stop the project. I was able to secure a $1,000 grant after pitching the project to a 4-H virtual agriscience summit in spring 2021. Afterward I ordered supplies and began to bring green into the greenhouse.
Michelle Zimmerman, a member of the Jefferson Grange, is the leader of the Blue Mountain Elementary youth group in Hamburg and in September they had their meeting at the greenhouse where youth planted cilantro and basil. Jefferson Grange, a nonprofit organization that supports farmers and hosts fun educational community events, has shown their hand in the greenhouse by helping to transplant basil. This past winter and fall Dimos mustard seed purchased 3 trays of basil becoming the first restaurant to support the greenhouse. This January we set up a hydroponic tower which we received for free from Lettuce Grow. The stand is 4 feet and 10 inches tall and can grow 24 plants.
One of the components of the 4-H grant is that the project must incorporate 4-H. So I started the 4-H Eagles Nest Club at the school along with Mr. Metzger, the club leader. The club is the only 4-H club at a school in Schuylkill County. Currently there are 6 members and it is still growing.
Recently I discovered that Charlie Heim, a shop teacher, was the driving force of getting a greenhouse. The greenhouse which came in a kit was funded by the Hill family, the school district as part of a larger grant, and the Eagle foundation. In the 2004/2005 school year construction was completed by Blue Mountain students in Roger Keperna’s shop class and Empire Glass. The total cost of construction was $11,127. Unfortunately the construction didn’t include any ventilation or heating. So a few years later in 2009 the special education department asked the school board for funding to have Antz Energy Systems install ventilation but they never received funding.
Notes: Roger Keperna shop teacher after heim and his students built the greenhouse
Heim was the shop teacher.
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