PACERS Rural Science for Life: Gardening, Marketing, and Passive Solar Greenhouses
The PACERS Community/ School Garden Project continues to grow. In December PACERS and its Akron and Beatrice Chapters received a grant from the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation (ACJF) to support the development of school/community garden programs in conjunction with Akron Community School and Beatrice Elementary School. The ACJF gift will make possible purchase and preparation of additional curriculum materials. Adding Akron and Beatrice to existing programs in Camp Hill and Packer’s Bend brings the total to four and plans are underway to add programs at Florala/Lockhart, Pintlala, Loachapoka, and Red Level and extend ones at Huxford and Section. The goal is to have at least ten programs operating by the end of the spring semester, 2011 and to connect the participants through a garden blog and workshops.
Beginning with Camp Hill and Packer’s Bend, the community/school gardening program has expanded as rapidly as any PACERS initiative. Principals, teachers, and community members have been quick to endorse the program because of its immediate applications for teaching science, improving students’ interest in school, and connecting schools and communities. All these factors have been confirmed by extensive national research that consistently shows gardening is good academics and great for kids.
As the program develops, teachers and resource persons will add lesson plans and other support materials, and research will be conducted to determine the academic and personal outcomes for students. The programs have important local prospects, and, therefore, therefore, partnerships and funding will be sought to explore the project’s implications for marketing and community improvements.
During 2008-09 member schools and communities continued to add passive solar greenhouses to the PACERS Rural Science for Life infrastructure. Greenhouses were upgraded to solar passive at Section and Sand Rock high schools and Harlan Elementary. New greenhouses were added at Edward Bell High School and Florala Middle School. The greenhouses are serving as living labs for learning science and as models for passive solar construction that can be replicated by local community members. Several of the greenhouses provide additional and cost-saving heating for schools.
The greenhouses are central components in the PACERS Rural Science for Life comprehensive program. In some cases they will be used to raise plants for sale or for distribution to community members and for transplanting into school gardens. Greenhouse operational and business plans can be prepared with assistance from PACERS science consultants and PACERS Getting Down to Business program.
To: Participants in the PACERS Community/School Garden Program
From: Jack Shelton
Re: Project Notes/Developments
The community/school gardening program is growing rapidly. Conversations about the project began in Packer’s Bend and Camp Hill in December, 2009. Both of those communities and schools have made great strides with the program. And this spring they are being joined by Section, Pintlala, Beatrice, Steele, Akron, Red Level and possibly Loachapoka. There is already a school garden at Huxford so I have included them in this mailing. Several other schools/communities have expressed interest and may join this spring. Project agreements are in the mail to Section, Pintlala, and Steele.There are several important things to be considering about the project. (Click to read more)
Walker Discusses Solar
Energy, Greenhouse Effect
By Maria Padron | Loachapoka High
Dorsey Walker, solar and greenhouse chapter membership
consultant, attended
the Pacers Conference on April 20. Walker participated by giving solar and greenhouse sessions to the various schools in attendance.
In his sessions, Walker asked his audience to consider solar
energy as part of their everyday
living.
Walker spoke to the students about the importance of greenhouse efforts and solar energy,
and he described the projects
and information “fun.”
In the sessions, he explained to students how the greenhouse effect and solar efforts can be involved
in the every part of life.
Walker gave various examples of new and healthier ways of growing
plants. He also stressed the importance of getting energy, the need for comfortable, healthy living...
and sharing plans for the next big step for their school paper...
Want to read more? Click to download the 2010 edition of The Pacers Press
- the official publication of the Pacers conference
As has usually been the case with PACERS-related programs, local community members and organizations provided assistance with construction and renovation. For program details and requirements contact admin@pacersinc.org
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