glenvar grows greens

Glenvar Middle SchoolGlenvar Grows Greens

Presentation by Paige Stinson

andAnn Fajardo

Overall Goal:To provide an opportunity for students to become capable of enriching their own lives and contributing to their community and nation through their construction and gardening skills, food production and preparation, and individual gain in health consciousness.

Project Goals:• To expand the existing Glenvar Garden,

which consisted of 4 raised bed gardens

• To extend the growing season of our crops

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 Jim Bradshaw, Assistant Principal, Glenvar Middle School Brian Weeks,

Construction Manager, Roanoke Co. Public Schools

Mike Blankenship, Head Custodian, Glenvar Middle School

School Participants:

Our “Green Mentors” (Members of the Southwest Virginia chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council): Patrick Donohoe, Architect/Engineer, Virginia TechBrenda Landes, Architect, CR Architecture + DesignBarry Martin, Owner, Green Home Energy Audits of VirginiaSuzanne Nicewonder, Engineer, Precision Engineering, PC

Consultant: Sherri Dorn, Extension agent

Parent: Kenny Anderson

Community Participants:

Students help design and build cold frames to cover two of the existing raised beds. This will allow us to plant earlier and harvest later.

Plan of Action1. Build Cold Frames

Consult with Green Mentors and extension agent to determine what type of greenhouse will best serve our needs and budget

We decided a 24’ by 48’ hoophouse would be the best choice

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Order a hoophouse kit

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Prepare the site: Install water, level and grade the earth, spread 6 inches of gravel

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

The hoophouse kit is here! ( Apr. 5)

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Install ground stakes to support the hoops

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

The hoops go up fast!

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Attach side supports for the “curtains”

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Build end walls

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Putting on the plastic requires team effort!

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Putting on the plastic requires team effort!

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Level out gravel inside and out

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Measure, cut and lay down floor fabric

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Design the layout of the interior of the greenhouse

Build 8 raised beds

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Put raised beds in place

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

We just need soil and we’re ready to start planting!

Plan of Action2. Build a Greenhouse!

Install shelving and wheelchair-accesible raised garden within the hoophouse to be completed by June 2011

What’s left to do…

Start planting! Fall 2011

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

Our Project is Sustainable!

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

Our Project is Sustainable!

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

teachers, students, and parents Establishment of GMS Garden club

Future Proposed Plans:

Mrs. Sellers blog: http://glenvargarden.blogspot.com/

Ms. Fajardo’s wiki: http://gmsgreenmath.wikispaces.com/

Monitor our progress…

GLENVAR GROWS GREENS!