US (MA): Nauset Middle School greenhouse grows closer to goal
“When the building permit comes out, which should be in a couple of weeks, we will start excavation probably in about a month,” said Robin Perry, organizer and vice president of the board for the project. “We’re looking for volunteers in the community that will do in kind services, to help us with excavation, form work, foundation work and concrete. We also need someone to do the heating which will be gas plumbed in from the street.”
The committee has already raised about $93,000 and needs another $25,000 to complete the project. Donations have been generous so far, both from businesses and individuals. One private donor gave $15,000 and grants from the Orleans Improvement Association, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Trust Foundation, The Cape Cod Foundation and the Irving Foundation have helped immensely, as have services donated by local businesses and individuals.
If everything goes as planned, the greenhouse will be constructed in March 2014 by Nexus Greenhouse Systems. The company builds the greenhouse at its factory and then brings it in pieces to be assembled on site.
Once it is completed, the greenhouse will function as a learning laboratory that will teach students about the best practices for growing plants with a focus on applying skills from all subject matters including science, math, engineering, art, ecology, culinary and the history of indigenous plants.
The school has already had a chance to practice some of those lessons with a small donated greenhouse. Teachers Daria Rice, Lia Wilkerson and Reva Blau are currently using the small greenhouse in the courtyard behind the school to grow flowers and herbs. The herbs are being used by students in the school’s Breakfast Café. It’s the beginning of what Perry and the whole committee hope will become a continuing joint effort.
“Even after the greenhouse is built we really want to continue to keep collaborating with intergenerational work in the community because we really want the community to know that yeah, it’s for the kids, but there’s a lot more to it than that,” Perry says. “We want to keep the community involved because it is going to be such a fabulous building. We want seniors come and work there and we hope to have mentors come in and work with the children.”
For more information or to make a donation, visit nrmsgreenhouse.org
Source: wickedlocal.com