A Green House Clean-Up Volunteer event took place at South Windsor High School’s green house on Nov. 21 from 2:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. The event was run by science teacher, Mrs. Eitel.
“The school’s greenhouse has not been in working order for over 20 years,” Eitel said. “The Environment Club applied for and received a $5,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to repair the greenhouse.”
The greenhouse was originally constructed in 1962, when the school was also under construction, and was initially used for botany classes. However, it has been out of use since then due to a lack of interest in the courses.
The Nov. 21 cleanup involved clearing debris and dust, organizing materials, and preparing the space for new plants and for students to partake in what was once thriving two decades ago.
Ms. Eitel encourages students to check out the Environment Club.
“If you students are interested in plants and running the greenhouse, you should reach out to me and join the Environmental Club,” she said.
The greenhouse is directly behind Mrs. Leone’s classroom. Mrs. Leone noted that the space has historically added unwanted heat to her room during the spring months, but she is excited about the new opportunities for students.
In an interview, Mrs. Leone said the greenhouse “has typically been underused and is kind of an eyesore behind my room. I usually keep the blinds drawn because the view is not the best. Additionally, the temperature in the greenhouse can lead my room to be hotter, especially in the warm weather.”
Leone added, “I am so excited about the work that is being done to fix up the greenhouse. It will be great to have a functional space for growing plants for various experiments, and I think that many classes will benefit from it being a usable space.”
With student volunteers, grant funding, and community effort, the greenhouse will soon return to its original functional state. The revitalization opens many doors for the future of South Windsor High School’s science endeavors, potentially even allowing the return of botany classes to the curriculum for interested students in the coming years.
