School receives grant to build a new greenhouse
By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com
The Charles City High School horticulture class will be getting more room to grow after being awarded a grant for the “Hoop House Learning and Serving Garden.”
“It’ll basically be a greenhouse,” said teacher Michelle Dohlman.
Dohlman applied for and was awarded an $11,775 grant from Farm Credit Services of America to construct a “high tunnel” that is 30-foot by 72-foot that will expand her student’s ability to grow vegetables.
The new structure would not only provide more space, but also enable plants to grow further into the fall than the current greenhouse allows.
“We want to be able to extend our growing period,” said Dohlman.
With more space and year-round growing capability, the Hoop House could give students more flexibility to plant different kinds of vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Along with providing more educational opportunities, the expanded growing space would allow for more locally grown food to make its way out into the community. Dohlman intends to see student grown vegetables donated to local food banks or shared at the farmer’s market to help stymie food insecurity in the county.
But before any of that, the Hoop House has to be built. Dohlman says she is working on finding a suitable location for the building, with the hope that they will be growing next year.
“Right now we’re trying to figure out a particular location. We’re tossing around a few ideas,” said Dohlman. “I’d really like to try to get it up yet this fall.”
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