Greenhouse gives Central students a hands-on education in horticulture

An addition to the Central High School campus a few months ago gives special-education students the opportunity to learn valuable gardening and agriculture concepts in a hands-on way.

"The functional greenhouse was started at the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year in September," said Candice Schnurbusch, a functional special-education teacher at the school.

The greenhouse has been a goal of Schnurbusch's for several years.

"The students had already created and maintained a garden plot for four years and were always disappointed that they couldn't have the experience all year long," she said. "With a lot of research and the development of a functional greenhouse curriculum, the students' and my dreams have become a reality."

The students grow a variety of items in the greenhouse.

Tevontay Hulbert, left, and Garrett Jones plant cilantro seed Wednesday in the greenhouse at Central High School in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

"Right now, we are growing cold crops such as carrots, lettuce, radishes, hearty herbs, spinach and collards," Schnurbusch said. "When the temperatures start to get warmer, we will start to develop our garden plot. Then we will be planting marigolds, potatoes, green beans, peas, lettuce, carrots, radishes and spinach."

The vegetation grown in the greenhouse is used in a multitude of ways.

"Some of the items we grow in the greenhouse will be transplanted into our garden plot," Schnurbusch said. "Others are sold to faculty and staff within the school building to bring about business concepts and skills. Also, we use some of the produce in our functional cooking curriculum to reconnect the students with the true source of their food, from the seed to the table."

Students learn how to care for the plants in a classroom setting before they begin working in the greenhouse.

"The class is working on a plant curriculum that includes parts of a plant and the needs and proper care of plants," Schnurbusch said.

"Once these skills were learned, the students maintain and harvest the produce on their own with very little assistance."

Schnurbusch shared why she thinks the greenhouse is a good project for special-education students.

"This greenhouse is a way to reconnect the students with nature and the true source of their food," she said.

"It teaches them valuable gardening and agriculture concepts and skills that integrate several subjects, such as math and science. It's a real-world experience for students to learn how to focus, be patient, cooperate [and use] teamwork and social skills. It gives the students a chance to gain self-confidence and a sense of capableness. It's so much more than just plants."

Garrett Jones, a junior at Central, said he enjoys working in the greenhouse.

He said his favorite jobs in the greenhouse are to water and take care of the plants.

He said carrots are his favorite thing to grow in the greenhouse.

Jones sees value in caring for the plants and vegetables in the greenhouse.

"If you take care of them, then you get to eat what you grow," he said.

The greenhouse is on the west side of the school building, right outside the cafeteria. Schnurbusch oversees the project but said she gets a lot of help.

"I oversee the greenhouse, along with my amazing teacher-assistant staff. I also get a lot of support from the building administration," she said.

The greenhouse was created, funded and supplied in a variety of ways.

"The greenhouse structure was purchased through funding here at school," Schnurbusch said. "However, the startup materials, such as soil, seeds, plant food, plants, etc. were donated by the Cape Girardeau Lowe's. Tom Young was outstanding there. Cape Central High School also donated unused tables and shelving for the greenhouse, and Paul Schnare from Sunny Hill has also donated his time and advice to me. He is a great individual."

The greenhouse will remain active through the school year and into the summer.

"It will also be used during our extended-school-year program during the summer," Schnurbusch said.

The greenhouse is just one part of the Functional Transition Program at CHS.

"My co-teacher, Becky Ahner, and I also developed a community work-experience program," Schnurbusch said. "This is where students go off campus to gain work experience at local businesses in Cape Girardeau. During the week, students work at Discovery Playhouse, Head Start, Patrick Furniture and St. Andrew's Early Childhood Center. The students also volunteer weekly at the Salvation Army. This program also has the opportunity to add new work experience prospects. We also have a cooking curriculum where they learn how to make simple meals independently."