Hydroponic Garden Big Hit at EHS

(FROM LEFT, EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL JASON FOX, TEACHER MELISSA HABING, AND STUDENT ASH BLUNT)

A hydroponic garden in use at Effingham High School has the potential to feed many students in local schools.

The project was developed by Steven Ritz, a Harlem-based teacher and friend of EHS teacher Joe Fatheree who developed the program in his urban area due to a lack of garden space.

A "Green Team" made up of EHS teachers Melissa Habing, Gena McDonald and Morgan Healy are working to foster interest in growing edible plants. Habing and student Ashton Blunt were invited by EHS Principal and Noon Rotary member Jason Fox to the club's weekly meeting Wednesday to discuss the project.

The project is an outgrowth of Blunt's work as a student in Fatheree's Innovation class at the high school. Blunt said Fatheree approached him one day in class and asked him, "What do you know about Hydroponics?" Blunt admitted to Fatheree, "Not much." Fatheree's response? "Start studying."

(THE PLANT TOWER IN USE AT EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL; LETTUCE ON TOP, TOMATOES NOW GROWING BELOW)

That led to Blunt's work on a plant tower obtained by the school. Some assembly was required, but Blunt completed that without instructions, something Habing said concerned her at the time, but the instructions weren't included. All of the materials were included, though, and soon Blunt had a "growing" project.

Blunt told Noon Rotarians the class is growing 28 lettuce plants. He said when the plants reach full height, they are harvested and used on the salad bar at the high school. Blunt said students are now asking, "When is your lettuce going to be on the salad bar?" Fox said when the school-grown lettuce is on the salad bar, it is the first item gone, well ahead of the other lettuce available.

Blunt noted he is a senior headed for Millikin University to play football, so others will need to take over the effort next school year. The goal is to go to five towers and make the opportunity for hydroponics districtwide. Fox said they could supplement district cafeterias with various fruits and vegetables. A grant request is being sent to the Lumpkin Foundation that would pay for the other towers. Long term, the thought is that the project could supply the school cafeterias on a regular basis, as well as other food distribution sites.