Glenvar Grow Greens

Hoop house greenhouse construction is low cost

Cold-house succession planting of cold-tolerant vegetables requires no supplemental heat

Raised-bed square-foot-gardening technique saves space, maximizes student involvement, reduces watering needs, and maximizes yield

Self-sustaining in the school setting as a means of teaching multi-disciplinary academic skills through practical application

Sustains the development of civic capability, enabling students to connect what they learn to how they live

Sustains opportunities for individual personal growth through higher-level thinking skills, cooperative learning, and problem solving with other students

Sustainable because:

As a result of this project, students will become capable of enriching their own lives and contributing to their community and nation through their construction and gardening skills, food production/preparation, and individual gain in health consciousness.

Goal Summary:

Students in Ann Fajardo’s and Mark Rohrback’s 2nd period “Green Math” class

Students in Beth Sellers’ 6th grade science classes Juliette Myers, principal, Glenvar Middle School and Jim

Bradshaw, assistant principal, Glenvar Middle School Brian Weeks, Construction Manager, Roanoke County Public

Schools Our “Green Mentors” (Members of the Southwest

Virginia chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council): o Brenda Landes, architect, CR Architecture + Design

Suzanne Nicewonder, Engineer, Precision Engineering, PC Patrick Donohoe, Architect/Engineer, Virginia Tech Barry Martin, Owner Green Home Energy Audits of Virginia

Consultant: Sherri Dorn, extension agent

Participants:

Students helped design and build two cold frames, allowing for the extension of the growing season in existing raised beds

Consultations with Green Mentors and extension agent to determine optimum greenhouse location on school grounds

Ordered the greenhouse kit from Puckett Greenhouse after consultation with Green Mentors and extension agent to determine the size and type of greenhouse to best serve needs within budget constraints

Installation of water to greenhouse location Design and installation of the interior to accommodate 8

raised bed gardens and an area for shelving, storage, wheelchair accessible garden

Build the greenhouse – Involving students, teachers and volunteers

See Mrs. Sellers blog: http://glenvargarden.blogspot.com/ See Ms. Fajardo’s wiki: http://gmsgreenmath.wikispaces.com/

Actions:

School-based composting Fundraising through greenhouse production Expanding gardening effort to involve more

teachers/students Establishment of GMS Garden club

Future Plans:

GLENVAR GROWS GREENS