Sunday, April 10, 2011

A WORKING GREENHOUSE


STUDENT WORKER'S GLOVES HANGING AROUND 
What does a college do that has a large beautiful old glass and steel greenhouse and lots of young energetic students in the Agriculture and Natural Resource Department? Well in 1871 the college decided to grow vegetables and flowers and make them available for a reasonable cost to the area residents. It was successful and grew to become the farm sales program which exists to this day. The money raised helps fund the department's program. 

FRESH GREENS FOR YOUR GARDEN
Students work in the greenhouse as well as in other parts of the farm program which has grown to include hoop house gardening,  hog farming, bee keeping, growing Shitake mushrooms, outdoor gardening as well as a few other projects.  

SALE IS POPULAR WITH TOWN RESIDENTS
Every spring the students hold a large plant sale in the old greenhouse. The plants are considered first harvest as they are seeded and grown on the grounds of the college. Community support is high for the event and the plants are quickly sold. It's a win-win situation -- the residents get freshly grown plants, mostly organic, and the students raise money to help with the continuation of the program.

PART OF GREENHOUSE WORK AREA
For more info on Berea College's Plant Sale click here

16 comments:

  1. Our high school has a greenhouse that grows plant and flowers. It is a huge success with our community.

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  2. Farmchick --- How terrific that your high school is involved with growing plants in a greenhouse. Berea College believes in "working hands" for their college students.

    I bet your school's plants and flowers are a huge success with your community.

    -- barbara

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  3. Oh, Barbara, this brought back so many memories of a local boys high school that was a trade/tech school and recognised horticultural training school; it was just magnificent, it kept so many boys out of trouble, gave them a trade and hunger for learning more...so lovely to learn something similar still exists somewhere!

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  4. Barbara, Everything went nuts when I tried to post, so if this turns out tot be number 2, please kill it. I loved this post. What a wonderful uplifting tale. Gardenign is so rewarding for EVERYONE!!

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  5. Barbara,
    Like the old saying: busy hands are happy hands.
    Good to see college students using their hands as a part of their education. Then the program deriving continuation from it as it should be. Thanks for sharing

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  6. Jayne -- the program is run by the Ag school for students that want to go into a profession such as soil science, Ag management, etc. The student walks aways with a degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    Thanks for the nice comment -- barbara

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  7. Dianne -- No this is the only comment -- and a very nice one it is. Gardening is rewarding. Especially if one grows veggies and fruit. As I grow older my garden becomes smaller and smaller.

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  8. Grampy -- The school does have a great program. I like the idea that they grow mostly organic. And, everything is fresh and well cared for that they sell. Thanks for the comment -- barbara

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  9. Wow, those greens are SO green! Makes me want to dig a new veggie garden!

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  10. A great program. Look at those lovely greens! Did you get any for your garden, Barbara?
    It's true, gardening is hard work.

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  11. Tess -- Perhaps you will have a nice veggie garden to show us this summer? -- barbara

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  12. Sheri -- No I didn't buy any of the greens you see in the photo. I start my plants from seed. I bought some lavender as I lost mine over the winter. Otherwise I think I am all set for a very small garden this year. -- Thanks -- barbara

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  13. Love, love,love your photos. You got me in the swing of things now to photograph. Thank you. I just love the gloves hanging on the line. Hopeyou stop by to see them on my blog.

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  14. Hi Barbara:

    Every school should have a program like this. Berea as a community has long been at the forefront of the sustainability movement. Very nice.

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  15. Diane -- I did stop by to see them on your blog but I guess I missed them. You give me such a boost on my photos -- thanks so very much. Have fun with your photographs. -- barbara

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  16. OOHF -- That would be nice but I question if the public school system would support sustainability. Maybe some progressive co-op schools would? My experience with the public school system is that it teaches one only to follow the rules and regulations of industry. Perhaps some colleges would be amenable? -- barbara

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