Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PRICES FORK LENGTH: Medium
A greenhouse had seemingly sprouted out of nowhere.
Little did the kids know of the work that went into the construction - how more than 25 volunteers worked "barn-raising" style all day Saturday so the greenhouse would be complete by the time the school bell chimed Monday morning.
The greenhouse will serve as a science lab, the focal point of a schoolwide project to teach the pupils about growing, living things by incorporating reading, math and science.
Call it gardening across the curriculum.
Each grade has a project. Kindergartners who know all about "Peter Rabbit," are planting Farmer McGregor's garden. Third-graders are planting an herb garden. Other pupils are planting sunflowers. There will even be a pizza garden (it's round) where pupils will grow the vegetables needed for most everyone's favorite pie.
"Everything we're doing this spring hinges on this," Dollie Cottrill, the school's principal, said as she watched two dozen workers busily hammer, drill and put up the arches that are the framework of the greenhouse.
Helpers included employees of Virginia Tech's horticulture and extension departments, Tech students, and parents and teachers.
"Virginia Tech donated this to Prices Fork about two years ago and we've been trying to get it constructed for that length of time," the principal said. "It's phenomenal. I just can't believe they would come and help us this way."
Kym Helms, a third-grade teacher, said gardening has been part of the school's curriculum for about three years.
Things really kicked into gear when Wilmoth O'Dell of Crow's Nest Farm started visiting the school three times a week to share her knowledge of gardening with the schoolchildren, who affectionately call her "Granny Plant."
O'Dell said she started coming to the school about four years ago as part of a grant to do some gardening projects with the children.
"I see it as being very important in the overall life education ... and a fun way to educate about plants and I just love to do it," O'Dell said.
The greenhouse will allow teachers and students "to expand into a more comprehensive science program."
Besides each class's gardening project, pupils also will be involved in managing the operation with a computer system and will learn about the financial end of gardening.
"We intend to support it [the greenhouse] through sales of what we grow and raise," Helms said.
Cottrill said plans include covering the whole school campus with growing projects. On April 7, students will help plant several trees near the greenhouse. Most trees were donated, but some - including Ginkgo trees that have roots in prehistoric times - have been bought with proceeds from aluminum can recycling.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***