Greenhouse sprouts at Douglas High School

A $30,000 grant from Learn and Serve America will allow Douglas High School agriculture and mechanics students to apply what they learn in their classes. The grant money was used to build a soon-to-be completed 1,440-square-foot greenhouse on campus.

"The FFA Foundation gave us a grant to build the greenhouse," said mechanics and welding teacher Jared Hyatt. "Learn and Serve America gave money to FFA who gave money to the Ag and mechanics classes. We've been working on a grant for two years. One of the projects is to reclaim the weed patch behind Carson Valley Middle School as the students' community service project. We're hoping to have some tomatoes in gallon containers going in the spring."

As far as building the greenhouse, "the kids did it all," said Hyatt.

"We had a minor setback with 80-mph winds last week that broke some panels."

Hyatt said the students will get the panels back up. When finished later this month, the greenhouse will be able to handle high winds.

Learn and Serve America provides grants to schools, colleges, and nonprofit groups to support efforts to engage more than 320 Nevada students in community service linked to academic achievement and the development of civic skills.

"We broke ground last October," said Douglas agriculture teacher Allyson Lammiman, "We have plans to raise catfish, poinsettias in the fall, bedding plants in the spring, along with on-going hydroponics projects. I have 50 plants in the classroom waiting to go into the greenhouse. It's just an opportunity waiting to happen."

The greenhouse creates the potential to branch out and possibly contribute to local farmer's markets.

"It's a chance for FFA clubs to promote ag," said Lammiman. "We have a strong club at DHS."