Need help re-building high school greenhouse

Posted by on January 22, 2007

Colleen Constrisciane of Earth Force writes:

I have just started working with Gina Ingram, biology and chemistry teacher, and Shanthi Shreekumar, Science Coach, at William Penn High School in North Philadelphia to help them develop a service learning program with Earth Force. It turns out that they have a beautiful greenhouse on the top floor of their school that has not been in use for a couple years. We are in the process of developing a plan to rehabilitate the greenhouse into a hand-on classroom that could be used for a myriad of service learning projects. One of the obstacles in the planning is that, as of now, the school has no one on staff that is proficient with running a greenhouse. We are hoping that there is a college or university nearby that has a horticultural program (or something similar) that may be willing to help with this endeavor. It would be a great opportunity for any of the local colleges that might be looking to do more community outreach or service learning with their classes. Do you have any thoughts on where we can turn?

[ed note: if interested, contact Colleen at c.contri@verizon.net or 215.884.9888]