Avery Trace Building New Greenhouse

Putnam County Schools purchasing a new $35,000 greenhouse to replace the facility at Avery Trace Middle School.

Putnam County Schools CTE Supervisor Jackie Vester said the Innovative School Models grant will pay for the greenhouse. Vester said the wear and tear showing on the old facility where students learn the basics of agriculture.

“The previous greenhouse has a plastic sheeting that goes around it and over time that had worn and started to shred and deteriorate,” Vester said. “When we went to repair it the actual structure was too close to the building for current fire marshal codes so that led us to the decision to replace it.”

Vester said the new greenhouse will be very beneficial to the school.

“It will allow students to have more hands-on opportunities within their STEM class to explore some science and technology features that apply to growing plants,” Vester said. “One of the things also that it provides is it allows students a different type of outlet. It’s outside the classroom and there are some therapeutic benefits of greenhouses and plants so it just allows students a different way to demonstrate that learning of science and technology.”

Vester said there is still a lot of groundwork that needs to be done before constructing the new greenhouse. Vester said she expects to have the greenhouse up during the Spring.

Vester said the new greenhouse will consist of polycarbonate sides instead of plastic sheeting to make the structure more durable. Vester said due to sewer drainage lines the structure will be moved next to the recess area on the school’s campus.

“We are actually moving it to a new area which is exciting,” Vester said. “We will run gas, water, and electric to that place and it will actually be closer to the STEM teacher’s classroom who will be utilizing the greenhouse.”