Sustained Partnership, Sustainable Growing is the theme for the “Green”House Project in the Northeast – a Place-Based Project connecting community to schools.
The Science House continues to strengthen community and school connections in the Northeast through a new program in Bertie County. The central focus of The “Green”House Project is sustainability for programs and partners. Working with the Roanoke Cashie River Center, the Roanoke River Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the NCSU Center for Environmental Farming System, and Bertie County Schools, The Science House submitted and received a SEED Grant from the Office of Extension, Engagement and Economic Development to support the construction and use of a community greenhouse. Our Place-Based Project work at the Roanoke Cashie River Center is developing with the assistance and guidance of many local partners including 4-H experts, Cooperative Extension agents, and local business leaders.
The goals of this new initiative are:
In the fall of 2010 we started this project by meeting with teachers and community experts to share knowledge and skills about many aspects of gardening. At monthly collaborative sessions, the participating teachers are developing classroom activities that support inquiry science learning in their classrooms. The construction of the actual greenhouse is underway this month with unexpected delays due to flooding in Windsor last fall.
The Bertie County Schools classroom teachers are creating amazing connections to their curriculum with projects to enhance what is happening at the greenhouse construction site. The engineering class at Bertie STEM School has explored heat retention and loss by modeling mock-up greenhouse designs and solar cookers. They have also designed and built rain barrels to efficiently collect fresh water at the greenhouse site. The biology classes at Bertie High School are preparing for spring semester with a curriculum topic study centered on genetics, growth and development. The biology students will give life to their “Seed Family” throughout the year by germinating, maintaining and monitoring the growth of various plants. Small raised beds built on campus will incorporate natural composting and organic practices. AP Biology students at Bertie High School will develop specialized research projects exploring many of the variables that contribute to successful plant 
growth. Studio H teachers and students at Bertie High are helping with design strategies for many of these classroom projects.
Each of the above classroom projects builds student confidence and enthusiasm in gardening while providing inquiry science opportunities aligned with the course objectives. The “Green”House Project participating teachers are utilizing the expertise of community members such as master gardeners to share specialized knowledge with their students. The classroom activities encourage student participation and support transitions to working at the community greenhouse and gardens located at the Roanoke Cashie River Center.
The Science House is committed to “growing” stronger community partnerships as a support for teachers and students in their quest for greater scientific interest, engagement and discovery. We wish to thank everyone who is involved at all levels in the “Green”House Project.
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