Going Green project hits its stride

The Going Green project at Malone Middle School (MMS) is growing quickly.

With support from the North Country Healthy Heart Network’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) program, Going Green was able to complete construction of new greenhouses at the middle school, which will help students extend the growing season for their plants.

“They already have raised beds outside,” said Kat Haney, CHSC program coordinator. “With the greenhouses, plants will be able to keep growing later into the fall, and planting can begin much earlier in the spring.”

The Going Green project has multiple components, including an exciting pilot project with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that focuses on the use of “food computers.” These computers — built by students — contain plants and allow for users to control things like the PH of soil, humidity, temperature, and more to create optimal growing conditions.

Students are also promoting their work as a community resource, Haney explained.

“They view it as a community garden,” she said. “Anyone can pick veggies if they need or want them.”

“We’ve also talked about further expanding into partnerships with other schools in the district,” Haney added. “They’ve already created veggie bags that come with soil, seeds, and instructions for planting, that they delivered to other schools. We are looking to the eighth grade team as the experts and leaders for this project.”

To learn more, email khaney@heartnetwork.org.