Jill Harlow – Loveland, Colorado … Led by Sarah Rogers, Agriculture Science teacher, the agriculture program has returned to Campion Academy in Loveland, Colorado, and is already growing vegetables and providing fresh eggs to the cafeteria.
As work on reinstating the program only began in late summer, the garden has just begun with a few raised beds to finish out the growing season. The healthy plants in the beds are producing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and green beans to add to the lunchtime salad bar.
In addition, the chicken coup has come back to life as the program was gifted with several laying hens which are starting to provide fresh eggs.
Students in the agriculture class as well as student workers are learning to take care of the plants, harvest the vegetables, and collect eggs.
Plans are in place to make use of the greenhouse this school year. Students have finished repurposing the fencing from the old growing tables to predator-proof the greenhouse. They will also be using the heavy-duty pallets and large wooden beams from the tables to build raised beds that will allow more plants to grow indoors year-round.
Stay tuned to see how this program keeps growing!
—Jill Harlow is Campion Academy Communication director. Photos by Jill Harlow.
