There is a big difference between learning about plants and actually being involved in the growing process. Soon, students at the Batesville School District will have access to hands-on learning at their new greenhouse on the Eagle Mountain
Magnet School’s campus.
The district recently received a $25,000 grant from America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The funds will go toward building a hydroponic-style greenhouse in order to promote healthy eating habits and to help students learn more about math and science in a real-world situation.
“The goal of this project is beyond producing fruits and vegetables,” Pat Rutherford, Eagle Mountain Magnet School principal, said in a press release. “It’s about taking math and science concepts to the next level while bringing the students and community together.”
America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education started in 2011 to help farmers support local school districts. Local farmers nominated the Batesville School District earlier this year, and then the Monsanto Fund notified the school and encouraged school staff to design a project that would utilize the grant funds to enhance math and science education. The school district was then responsible for formally applying for the grant.
Susan Parker, health teacher, and Julie Roach, EAST — Environmental and Spacial Technology — program facilitator, wrote the grant application and turned it in at the end of the 2014-15 school year.
“We found out in July that we were in the running, and in August we were notified that we received the highest amount possible for the grant,” Parker said. “It’s going to have a huge impact.”
Parker said there are big plans for the new greenhouse. After-school programs and the EAST program will be able to utilize the greenhouse, and FFA will be heavily involved in several greenhouse projects. Additionally, individual math and science classes will visit the greenhouse on occasion.
The greenhouse will enable district students, faculty and staff to do hydroponic farming, which utilizes mineral nutrient solutions in water to grow plants without soil.
“We felt like anything we can do — especially using water to plant fruits and vegetables — would help show the students what can be done with math and science,” Parker said.
The district also received an educational starter kit from Monsanto Company to help establish a pollinator garden to show students the critical role habitat plays in providing bees and butterflies with food, shelter and places to lay eggs.
Parker said now that the district has the funds, plans are in place to have everything for the greenhouse ordered by November and then the greenhouse should be up and running some time in December.
Also in the Three Rivers Edition coverage area, the Bald Knob School District was awarded $10,000 from the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program. The money will be used for the district’s proposed project “Experiencing Science Through Engineering.”
For more information on America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education, visit www.GrowRuralEducation.com.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.