Greenhouse returns home to school

Fourteen years ago, Shannon Pollard discovered an unused greenhouse at Sisters Elementary School. She used that greenhouse to start an elementary school garden club that had 55 members in the first year.

The club hosted a Garden Club Faire each spring and used proceeds to build a larger greenhouse for the kids. Last year the club, led by Pollard, boasted nearly 120 kids - which is roughly 25 percent of the student body at the elementary school. 

The original greenhouse was adopted by Angeline's Bakery. Angeline Rhett's kids were in the garden club and used the greenhouse for a time. But in recent years, the greenhouse sat unused. Recently Pollard had a brainstorm - move the greenhouse back to the school and use it for plant starters.

But how?

Sisters Kiwanis members had recently cleared the garden area, so she called the Kiwanis president, Suzanne Carvlin, who immediately thought of Lance Trowbridge. Ever creative, Lance concocted a simple idea - attach casters to the greenhouse and tow it to the school. He enlisted fellow Kiwanians and community members for traffic control and greenhouse maneuvers. It required 45 minutes of slow going, but the idea worked perfectly.

The Sisters Elementary School Greenhouse has returned to its original home.

There are several ways to get involved and help the Elementary School Garden Club. Volunteers are always needed to support classes and workshops (all volunteers must be pre-screened by the Sisters School District). In addition, the club will always accept donations of soil, four-inch pots, gently used garden tools, and seeds. Support for the outdoor garden space is also welcomed. 

For more information contact Shannon Pollard at [email protected]