Nucla Middle and High School was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Colorado Garden Foundation (CGF) to support the costs of an ongoing greenhouse project. CGF is a nonprofit organization that provides horticultural projects across the state with grants and scholarships for the benefit of Colorado’s ecosystem. Accepted on Feb. 20 by Nucla Principal Josh Ledford, the school has until the end of the next school year to use the funds to support their greenhouse project.
Currently, the school is in the construction phase of its plans, building the structure of the greenhouse. The foundation was dug out and filled with gravel by local companies, Williams Construction and Reams Construction, with the help of Dan Williams and Mike Redd, two school maintenance workers. Ledford said Williams and Redd are responsible for much of the work done so far, including fabricating the construction of the outer shell of the structure, digging and laying gravel, and coordinating with local businesses to ensure a timely process.
Once the structure is complete, the grant money will be used to supplement the costs of the interior materials and growing supplies, including seeds, soil and gardening tools for students. Soon, students will begin to grow flowers as well as produce to sell to community members. Agriculture teacher Brianne Bonacquista will assist students with their growing plans and materials, but otherwise the plants will be entirely the kids’ own.
Students have said they’re excited about being able to start businesses with the products they'll grow in their own greenhouse. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are expected to be popular products, and students have gained valuable insights from local businesses.
“There have been a lot of people that are excited about starting a greenhouse again,” Ledford said. “We’ve had a lot of community support, whether it’s volunteers or our local businesses that are willing to help us out.”
The community has already made a significant impact on the project, with local experts sharing their knowledge with students, offering services and even help with construction. Founders of the Apple Core Project, Jen Nelson and Erik (Bodie) Johansson, have used their knowledge to show kids the processes necessary to have a successful harvest.
Nelson has been a guest educator for the agriculture classes at the school, assisting with the planting of apple trees and participating in other grow projects; Johansson brought his insight to the project, suggesting the school invest in a climate battery. A climate battery is tubing buried under the foundation of the greenhouse, made to store excess heat it collects during the day that’s released into the greenhouse at night when the temperature is lower. This will be especially valuable in heating the greenhouse during Nucla’s winters. The climate battery will also be a learning opportunity for the students to understand the scientific process of heating and cooling through thermal mass.
Ledford said the newest addition to the updated Nucla Middle and High School will not only be rewarding to students and faculty of the school, but to the West End as a whole. The new greenhouse will allow kids to strengthen community ties and share their locally grown and resourced plants and produce.
For more information on the greenhouse project, all are invited to follow the Nucla Middle and High School’s social media pages, or visit West End Public Schools District website: www.westendschools.org/o/nhs For more information on the Colorado Garden Project, all may visit www.coloradogardenfoundation.org.
