Clay High students are busy once again planting seedlings and starters, watering and fertilizing, weeding and nurturing daily in efforts to grow the best flowers and vegetables in the county. Each year, the agricultural students of Mr. Bob Morris grow a variety of vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, spinach and peppers to sale to the public as gardening season begins. Beautiful baskets of annual flowers, also grown by the students, will be available just in time for Mother’s Day.
By engaging in this activity, the kids are not only learning the responsibility involved with overseeing such an operation, they are also learning a lifelong lesson. Jimmy Duffield purchases and donates seeds to the greenhouse every year, saying “The kids need somebody to help them. It is important for them to have the knowledge to grow their own food.” Many of the students are also growing vegetables in the greenhouse this year as part of the Farm to School initiative which brings fresh, local vegetables into homes and schools across the county.
The greenhouse is located at Clay High and is open daily until 4:00 pm. As the growing season approaches, the greenhouse will adopt extended hours including weekends and will also participate in the Clay Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings at the courthouse square.