This school year, horticulture students at Geneva High
School have been living the District’s vision in more ways than one. Not only
have they cultivated their complex, creative-thinking skills during their time
growing crops in the school’s greenhouse, but they also are becoming productive
citizens and giving back to the community. Using materials that were
received through a Geneva Academic Foundation grant and local donations from
FONA and Ball Seed, the students have grown lettuce, greens and other herbs,
and returned the donations back to the local community.
The student-grown
greenhouse crops have been used in the school’s foods classes and for banquets
they have hosted. The group also donated more than 750 lbs. of lettuce to
Northern Illinois Food Bank, according to science teacher Jason Lesatz.
“We will continue to foster
these relationships,” he said, “and hopefully build other community
relationships as we keep moving forward with this project next year.”