Planting Day at New SCSD#3 Greenhouse

On Wednesday, April 2, Rooted in Wyoming and volunteers from the Sheridan County Extension Service, joined the Arvada-Clearmont elementary school children for a planting day at the new A-C School Greenhouse.

Abigail Mueller, 7-12 Vocational Agriculture teacher, had this to say about the greenhouse and the farm to school cafeteria program.

Last year they planted the garden east of Clearmont at the Carol and Bob LeResche farm. This year, Mueller said,

The entire elementary school students were a part of planting day, and there were three stations set up, with interactive talks and hands on activities learning about the worms, different soils and how seeds produce plants.

Ian Cannon-Wallace, Program and Outreach Coordinator at Rooted in Wyoming, described a greenhouse and why they were important.

He was joined by four volunteers who were helping with the activities. David Johnson, Executive Director of Rooted; Olivia Koltiska, Vice Chairman of the board and Micah Most, board member, as well as Larissa Bonnet, the Community Vitality and Health Educator for the University of Wyoming Extension in Sheridan County.

School Chef Aubrey Holland felt that the program was a great idea, and a learning experience for the students as well.

Locally grown foods are fresher, have a longer shelf life, and have more nutritional value than foods that are trucked in from other areas.

Last year the students planted the seeds at the Sheridan College Greenhouse and planted them in the LeResche Farm. Holland added that last year’s garden was a success,

She said that this year they will plant the same foods, but they are going to try lettuce and green onions this year as well.

The students will be actively involved with taking care of the plants and transplanting them outside when the weather is warmer. The Farm to Cafeteria program is a national program which strives to add fresh, healthy food to school lunches. The program also helps students learn how their food is grown.