Principal David Mills welcomed Morrison FFA Alumni, Board of Education members, city officials, students, staff, and community members to a ribbon-cutting and walk-through of the new greenhouse situated on the south end of the high school in celebration of a project that will have a positive impact on learning, doing, experimenting, and growing.
Despite the chill in the air, the greenhouse had a welcoming warmth in its spaciousness. Project leader Alex Williams said the building is a culmination of months of work on behalf of the Morrison FFA Alumni, a non-profit organization that took on the project as an investment in Morrison’s Ag education.
Following approval from the Board of Education earlier this year, the alumni started laying the groundwork in June and doing the structure work in July. They had to remove some sod and bushes, excavate, connect utilities, pour concrete sidewalks and pads, and put up the frame, with the exterior greenhouse work completed in September.
The 14 x 48 Educator Series greenhouse contains eleven table stations, adjustable hanging racks for plants, a trolley for a hose, a large sink, and a water filtration system, all on a solid foundation. The structure is composed of a polycarbonate material that’s sturdier than glass, durable, stackable, and easily replaceable. The safety-first design and ADA compliant structure has an exit on each side.
Williams said there was a learning curve for the “challenging experience” of building the structure over the past few months. After the initial water and gas installation, a group of volunteers showed up almost daily to help assemble the greenhouse kit. The building ended up being twice as big as the original plans, thanks to their successful fundraising efforts. It was purchased from FarmTek, a greenhouse manufacturing business in Dyersville, IA.
Williams said they still need to install a rollup shade system but that can wait until next spring or summer. The building is heated and has electric and water services. Overhead are two exhaust fans and vents for circulation and air flow. Other than some architectural fees, there were no costs to the school district. The alumni secured sizable grants and donations, and held raffles and fundraising events to fund the purchase.
The project has been a blank canvas for Ag teacher and one of the school’s two FFA advisors Mrs. Tonia Prombo, who plans to make it a self-sustaining operation for students in the long term. She got approval from the Regional Office of Education to add new courses to the curriculum, such as intro to horticulture and floriculture, and she just completed taking a greenhouse course at Sauk Valley Community College herself.
“I want this to be a situation where the students run with it,” she said of ideas such as plant sales, which will give students a chance to learn, lead, and raise funds. A greenhouse account will help with ongoing costs such as growing lights, seeds, soil fertilizers, early propagation tools, and items to carry out labs and experiments, from propagation to hydroponics to flowers to growing in small spaces.
Prombo helped design and bring to life a prairie patch last year thanks to a grant from the Soil & Water Conservation District. From design to biology to horticulture, she can help students develop real world skills such as drawings, design and site layout before bringing them to life. Prombo will lead plant projects that allow the youth to be excited about hands-on experience with science-based activities, from biology to natural resources to ag education. She sees it as a way for students to be more involved in the community and an important resource for Morrison as a whole.
“Every class is different and changes every year. It will be neat to see how it goes and grows, from planting different flowers and taking pride in creating,” said Prombo. She hopes students can find inspiration and ideas and help bring them to life in this space. She sees older students mentoring the younger ones, Sauk Valley Impact students having ways to earn hours, and groups collaborating for successful outcomes. The greenhouse will also be accessible to the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative students.
The project will also “bring real world situations” to the issues students discuss in the classroom, such as population growth, global sustainable growth, feasible alternatives, and recycling. Hands-on lessons will include growing food such as lettuce and tomatoes to supply the school cafeteria or collecting and reusing plastic pots for the plants.
“Ag is science, business, and marketing. There are 800 careers in Ag. This is part of a bigger picture for the district,” Prombo says of the district’s aim to offer all students access to Ag opportunities, from classroom and greenhouse learning to the FFA chapter to internships. The greenhouse will complement what’s already in place, while bringing whole new potential to the community.
The project has always been on a flexible timeline, where they hoped to have it open by the time school started in August followed by the open house in the fall. In the next outdoor growing season, they’ll landscape around the greenhouse and add more gardens, seating, or even a fountain to benefit students with special needs or those in need of a relaxing space. “There are possibilities and so many opportunities,” Prombo says.
Principal Mills thanked all who were involved in the greenhouse project and making it a reality after all the planning and fundraising. The school paid for the architectural drawings, but the rest was taken care of by Morrison’s FFA Alumni, who were ready to give back to the school district and community by taking on such a large project.
Though many hands contributed to the project, specials thanks for individuals and businesses go to Scott Folkers for pushing the project forward, Bill and Ethan Bush, Randy Betts, and Brandon and Chad Peppers for the concrete and foundation work and helping with the structure; and Mark, Evan and Cameron McDonnell for all their summer help, with Williams noting “there was not a day that Mark didn’t show up.” Also thanks to MHS senior Keegan Strobbe, who is pursuing an Ag career and was instrumental in helping with the building, as well as mentoring younger FFA member Noah Icenogle.
Local businesses contributing to the project include Bogott Plumbing (BPI Companies) for doing the water line hookup to the school for free; JB Electric for doing electrical work at material cost only and donating their labor; Workman Heating & Cooling for facia work and donating time and materials, and Ryan’s Tree Service for donating mulch.
Williams thanked all the volunteers who worked on the project and the monetary donations from businesses and individuals. “Without them, it wouldn’t have been possible,” he said of this gift to the students. “The outpouring of support has been wonderful. The kids have been excited about it once word got out.” Check out Morrison FFA Alumni on Facebook for updates, events, projects and more.
Morrison High School Greenhouse Ribbon-Cutting on Thursday, November 14th
Building the Greenhouse in July
Morrison High School Prairie Plant Garden
