Christian Academy students learn to garden

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SIDNEY — Christian Academy Schools (CAS) seeks to grow not only its facility but also its educational prospects for students.

In its pursuit, CAS has added a greenhouse to its campus at 2151 W. Russell Road.

What most people may not know is that the gardening club did not begin that way.

“The program started several years ago as the robotics club and this transformed into the garden club,” said John Streb, assistant director of the CAS garden club. Streb oversees the program along with Tracy Brewer.

In addition to learning to cultivate the garden and grow crops, the students who join the gardening club will learn to grow flowers and share them with others.

The foods grown will be made available to supplement the lunches provided by the school in addition to teaching the students to plant, care for and harvest the crops.

“They learn something that has been passed down for generations in the community that includes the idea of having healthy food from ‘farm to table,’ just like the victory gardens during World War II,” said Streb.

While the greenhouse will not be utilized as such this year, there is a garden that was planted by the group that has provided for the program before the greenhouse was built.

“There is already a garden that was planted at the end of the school year last year, and over the summer, people have been able to use the vegetables that were grown in the garden. The greenhouse is being used this year by Mrs. Berning, the science teacher, for her class,” said Streb.

The monies used to construct the greenhouse, along with its accompanying garden shed, were donated by an anonymous donor.

Streb learned to garden as a child and credits that experience with his love of gardening today.

“It started with a farmer’s wife who taught a young man how to plant and grow green beans by using a stick for spacing, and in turn this young man has stepped up and is teaching a new generation the benefits of growing your own food,” said Streb.

A new greenhouse stands ready for use at Christian Academy Schools in Sidney.
http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2018/10/web1_CAS-greenhouse.jpgA new greenhouse stands ready for use at Christian Academy Schools in Sidney. Paula Frew | Sidney Daily News

By Paula Frew

For the Sidney Daily News

The writer is a regular contributor to the Sidney Daily News.

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