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Environmental Education Pilot Program is Helping Students Grow
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January 22, 2024The new year might be off to a chilly and snowy start. But in Butler Catholic School’s warm first-floor environmental classroom, plants are growing and students are thriving!
A large part of that is due to our new Tower Garden. Harnessing the power of aeroponic growing methods, water and nutrients are pumped through the standing plastic tower to nurture plants established in various growing holes. Growth lights are connected to a timer, ensuring plants have enough energy to develop—even in the middle of winter!
“We can grow on it year around!” noted Rae Harrison, our on-site certified Master Gardener who is leading the school’s new environmental education pilot program.
The tower, which arrived at BCS last fall, was paid for with a generous donation from Butler Garden Club. Dedicated to helping educate students about plants and the growing process, the club has assisted with many BCS Garden Club projects and activities in the past. When our new environmental education pilot program took root for the 2023-24 school year, club members were eager to help get it off the ground.
“Butler Garden Club has been a long-time supporter of the programing here,” Ms. Rae explained. “They contacted the school last year and asked if there was anything they could donate.”
When the tower arrived in the environmental classroom in the fall, students helped get it ready for use.
“Eighth grade assembled it completely, which was pretty cool,” Ms. Rae said. “That was important to us, because it helped students really understand how the system works.”
Ms. Rae opted for a lettuce mix as students prepared the tower for its first planting. Seeds were planted in the tower Dec. 3. By the time students and staff returned to school from Christmas break Jan. 3, the lettuce was ready to harvest! The crop benefitted from a mineral blend introduced into the tower’s water system and was grown without the use of chemicals to ensure the tastiest, healthiest results.
“The kids loved it,” Ms. Rae said. “They said it was sweet, not bitter.”
Students who harvested the first crop of lettuce had the chance to eat it straight off the tower! The rest of the school—including staff—enjoyed the lettuce during lunch as part of a salad prepared by our cafeteria workers.
The January classroom lettuce crop is just the beginning. As coming weeks bring warmer weather, students will continue using the tower garden and learning new ways to plant, grow, and harvest their own food—both inside and outside the classroom.
“There’s already a second growth starting on the tower!” Ms. Rae added.
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