Special to The Trussville Tribune
Vestavia Hills High School students will create a rooftop garden thanks to donations from the Jefferson County Farmers Federation and the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF).
Jefferson County Farmers Federation donated $2,500, and AFAF provided $5,000. Checks were presented to the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation (VHCSF) at an event today.
“We’re very happy to help Vestavia Hills take this innovative idea from concept to reality with this donation,” said John Morris, Jefferson County Farmers Federation president. “Working the soil and growing something yourself provides important lessons in responsibility and problem-solving. Students will benefit from this garden for years to come.”
The 1600-square foot rooftop garden will be located on a structure near the school football stadium. It will be a working classroom, where up to 500 students learn lessons related to natural and social sciences, math, language arts, visual arts and nutrition.
Teachers will use the space for projects in art, technology and consumer sciences. Students designed the space, taking into account water runoff and storage.
They plan to harvest and cook with herbs and produce from the garden.
In the grant application for the project, VHCSF Executive Director Ashley Thompson said evidence shows students at schools with garden projects score significantly higher on standardized science achievement tests.
“The goal is to introduce a more active approach to learning, and as a result the students will increase skills and interest in science,” Thompson said. ”There will be conversations, observations and comparisons taking place. Students will be consulting with one another, teachers and experts about their findings.”
VHCSF was established in 1996 by a group of community-minded citizens to provide additional funds for projects and programs for Vestavia Hills Schools and to offset the effect of proration.
The Jefferson County Farmers Federation includes 23,878 members. It is part of the Alabama Farmers Federation, the state ‘s largest farm organization with more than 350,000 members.
AFAF supports and advances agriculture in the State of Alabama through education and research; increases awareness of agriculture through public programs and activities; improves and expands agricultural services and products for the benefit of all citizens; and establishes and maintains high standards in agriculture.