By Julia Schultz
After having the same greenhouse for eighteen years, Heritage has decided to give their beloved learning environment an update.
The greenhouse is used for growing all sorts of plants. They grow ornamental plants to edible plants.
From herbs and tomatoes to petunias, it’s all an educational learning experience for the students.
Heritage uses the greenhouse “as a hands-on learning opportunity in multiple classes throughout the school year, including Horticulture, Plant Science/Agronomy, Introduction to Agriculture as well as for FFA CDE Practice and our Annual Plant Sale” according to Heritage Ag teacher Brooke Mohr.
Having the greenhouse allows the students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to hands-on experiments in the labs.
But after eighteen educational years, the greenhouse was in need of some upgrades.
Mohr explains, “Over the past couple years we have fully updated the greenhouse by getting a new outside covering put on, a new automated irrigation system, new tables for the plants, and our latest update is the concrete floor with a drain.”
These updates have made the greenhouse more functional and accessible to the students and teachers. The greenhouse will now also be a year round space for the students to learn.
The funding for this new greenhouse has come from many different grants, including a $12,500 grant from the State of Illinois completed through the office of State Senator Chapin Rose.
Unfortunately, with the mandatory restrictions due to COVID-19, Heritage cannot use the greenhouse for the time being. But, “ we are anxiously awaiting the chance to use it when possible,” Mohr said.
Regardless of these restrictions, Mohr said“the students are eager to get to work in the greenhouse with all the new updates.”
