By Tiffany Dien – Loveland, Colorado… Vegetables are growing again under the newly-formed agriculture program at Campion Academy.
The Acquainting Agriculture Program is led by Russell Branham, program director, and recently-hired class instructor Doug Hoos.
“I was looking to get involved with more extensive gardening, but after my wife retired, we kind of discontinued that and had other plans for this summer. But COVID-19 came along,” Hoos explained. “So, I was praying for some place to do some gardening and saw the Campion newsletter come out saying they were re-starting the program at Campion. The timing seemed to be right.”
The students are welcoming the chance to learn gardening and farming techniques.
“During Agriculture class so far, I learned how to plant vegetables and how soil could change the development of the plants,” Gregory Lang, Campion sophomore, said. “It is a fun class. Mr. Hoos is a kind man, and he has the passion to make this class a good learning experience.”
The class in Acquainting Agriculture is open both first and second semester to all students.
“[I’d like] students to learn simple, very low-cost methods they can take home or anywhere in the world to use to garden,” Hoss explained.
Produce is available for sale to the community on a limited basis. Currently, the program offers zephyr squash, green beans, emerald okra, crimson okra and lots of basil. Carrots, beets, brussels sprouts and radishes are not quite ready. The agriculture class will grow mostly root-type vegetables through the winter as well.
—Tiffany Dien is a senior at Campion Academy; photo by Jill Harlow
