Several Ypsilanti Schools to Receive Greenhouses

Freezing temperatures and snow accumulation will no longer be obstacles to gardening education at several schools in Ypsilanti, thanks to Growing Hope, a local community gardening organization. Growing Hope has partnered with the University of Michigan College of Engineering to design and construct greenhouses at East Middle School, West Middle School, New Horizons School, Willow Run Middle and High School, and the Ypsilanti Head Start.

A large class of undergraduate engineering students competed to come up with the best greenhouse design. The winning five designs are under partial construction on UMs North Campus now the installation at each school will vary according to the schools timeline, but the teams hope implementation will happen before April.

Were getting a team together at each school to think about the goals and potential programming for each greenhouse, says Amanda Edmonds, Executive Director of Growing Hope. School teams, which include teachers, administration, parents, and students, will identify opportunities for curriculum integration and other programming at each school. At some sites, the greenhouses might be used for teambuilding and community service; at others, for nutrition or science education. Growing Hope also plans to document the process at each school to glean best practices. The partnership with U-Mthrough Dr. Lorelle Meadowswill continue in the future, and the partners are already choosing potential sites and making a formal application process.

Constructing green houses at local schools fits nicely with Growing Hopes mission to improve peoples lives through gardening. These five schools will be part of the Washtenaw School Garden Network, an initiative Growing Hope will launch this spring to connect school gardens and resources throughout the county. It will also fit well with the organizations efforts to strengthen a Michigan School & Community Garden Network; Growing Hope and partners in Detroit and Grand Rapids recently received a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to fund these statewide activities. Their hope is to raise the profile of school and community gardens statewide, in part by showing people the positive connections between gardens and health, nutrition, crime reduction, neighborhood improvement, and more.

The greenhouses need community support to function. We need greenhouse supplies, especially benches and growing supplies, says Edmonds. Volunteers will also be essential once construction begins, and local businesses can become greenhouses sponsors. For more information about Growing Hope, or to contact Amanda Edmonds, visit www.growinghope.net.