Specialty Crop

Students in the GIS Outdoor Education program learn many aspects of horticulture and gardening, as they get hands-on experience growing vegetables in two hydroponic walls and dozens of containers that hold potting soil. One classroom is devoted to the gardening facilities.
“I think that gardening is really soothing for the students and also staff members who come into the room. It’s a very relaxing space, and with some of the students I see an improvement in their behavior when they are working the soil and talking to their plants,” says coordinator Heath Hayes. “The program also is a great benefit to students with special needs.” And the public benefits, too, as students sell a variety of plants, including 1ʹ to 4ʹ tall tomato plants.

Students conduct a variety of experiments during the school year, including comparing growth rates of plants in the hydroponics compared to soil. “They are amazed with how much faster plants grow in the hydroponic walls, and how they produce a greater yield.”

As another example, students were having a difficult time getting strawberry seeds to germinate, and they learned that if you cold stratify the seeds first, that is a ticket to success. This involves putting seed packets into a freezer for three to four weeks.

“Our program continues to expand, and it is giving students life skills,” says Hayes, who notes that the GIS Outdoor Education program also includes firearms’ safety, archery, knot tying, crafts, and kayaking.