Greenhouse

In the summer of 2016, LFCDS Alumnus Justin Hone '14 brought new life to the School's Greenhouse, which was originally built in 1976 with funds donated by George and Hat Bermingham in memory of their son, Robbie, a longtime LFCDS student. Justin identified the Greenhouse as the ideal spot for his Eagle Scout project—constructing an aquaponics garden in partnership with Growing Healthy People (GHP), a non-profit company dedicated to training veterans for careers in sustainable farming.

Today the Greenhouse is a bustling hub for both sustainable farming and experiential science curriculum. The farm grows a variety of microgreens, the first leaves of a plant, including basil, peppers, cucumbers, arugula, kale, radishes, and much more. The plants grow atop long beds of nutirent-rich pebbles that sit atop tanks of tilipia and koi. The fish produce ammonia, which converts to nitrogen—an excellent organic fertilizer for the plants growing above. The roots of the plants filter the water, which is pumped back down to the fish below in a true symbiotic relationship.

Students have planted their own crops to share with their families at home, planned a farmers market in the Early Childhood Center, and sampled a variety of greens during snacktime. Under the expert eye of GHP's Executive Director Cheryl Besenjak, we are excited to watch this innovative program "grow!"