Planting a seed

It's been years in the making, but the greenhouse at Holyoke JR/SR High School is now in full bloom.

Shauna Strecker's plant science and natural resources class invited Re-1J Education Foundation board members to see the new facility Friday morning, April 16.

The greenhouse, located at the southwest corner of the school, was completed prior to the 2020-21 school year, and the class prepped it for a spring crop by building tables, ordering plants and more.

Since January, class members Amy Mackay, Josie Schlachter, Savannah Vermeulen and Alejandro Rojas as well as class aide Ethan Andersen have been growing flowers and veggies from seed. They have kept the plants watered, transfered them to new pots when necessary, regulated the greenhouse temperature and even put their artistic skills to use by creating hanging baskets.

The greenhouse is also being used by FBLA students to grow succulents, and Andersen developed an aquaponics system that uses fish to grow vegetables.

It's been a lot of trial and error for the first year, but the students have made changes and adapted to unforeseen situations.

"It's inspired kids to look at a career in this field," said Strecker.

Having overcome multiple setbacks since the idea for a greenhouse was first planted, Strecker is excited to see it up and running and is looking forward to its future.

Foundation board member Michelle Van Overbeke said the group hears pitches from local teachers about

projects they need funding for. After some vetting, the foundation helps connect community members with projects that they want to support financially.

These are projects with longevity that go "above and beyond," added board member Tom Bennett.

Others currently on the board are Troy Killin, Curt Parker and Aly Brinkema.

With a solid vision for a greenhouse that would allow students to participate in a hands-on agricultural experience, Strecker presented a grant request to the foundation in April 2017. She also had applied for and later received a Monsanto $25,000 grant for the project.

The foundation board immediately saw the greenhouse as a good fit as a partner in Holyoke education, said Van Overbeke.

Holyoke's superintendent at the time, John McCleary, had experience with that type of project and took the lead. There were also similar projects across the state that could be used for reference in planning the local greenhouse.

A budget was set at $52,500, including $2,550 from the school district, $25,000 from the Monsanto grant, $10,000 from a Heginbotham Trust matching grant, $5,000 from the foundation's mailing campaign, $5,000 from the foundation and $5,000 from a local matching donor.

The foundation sent out a fundraising mailing in December 2017, and by February 2018, $18,865 had been raised. This amount included a $5,000 matching donation from Carl and Kathy Schneller and two large donations at $2,500 apiece procured directly by ag advisory board member Keith Sagehorn.

The foundation received a total of 33 donations ranging from $25-$5,000, with the average donation being $572.

Van Overbeke noted that the foundation's policy is to hold back 10% of direct mail fundraising amounts to keep for seed money for future projects.

Since the amount the foundation raised was over $10,000, the project received the full $10,000 matching grant from Heginbotham Trust.

In July 2018, the actual moneys available for the project were $57,478.51, and of that amount, the foundation was custodian of $32,478.51.

The site selection was finalized, putting the greenhouse adjacent to the administration building at the southwest corner of the JR/SR high school. A greenhouse manufacturer was also selected, and when McCleary moved, new Superintendent Kyle Stumpf inherited the project.

A concrete pad was poured the summer of 2019, and construction targeted completion that fall. However, progress came to a halt due to specific construction issues, and some concrete had to be torn out and changes made.

Finally, in August 2020, the project was completed and received final inspection.

Van Overbeke said it's customary for the foundation to wait to give funds to projects after they have been completed. So when Ben Rahe, the school budget and finance director, submitted invoices to the foundation, a check for the funds it was holding was written for $32,478.51.

At Friday's event, Strecker noted her appreciation for the foundation, the donors, Stumpf, Rahe and others who have supported the greenhouse project.

The community can check it out Saturday, May 8, at the students' plant sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. They will also be participating in Holyoke Chamber of Commerce's Home and Garden Show on Saturday, May 22.