When sourcing school lunches, Hillcrest Academy in Kalona looks locally.

Mike Patterson teaches all agriculture and biology courses at Hillcrest, in addition to being the FFA advisor. He and five other students work in a greenhouse as part of the plant science course curriculum.

Students learn about both the agricultural and botanical sides of science. The greenhouse is a  20×20 coop that lacks electricity and heating. But that doesn’t stop them from cultivating a wide variety of  plants and herbs, including radishes, turnips, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and cilantro—a favorite among chefs. Additionally, herbs like lavender, parsley, mint, and oregano are grown.

Despite the fact that the growing and harvesting seasons don’t always coincide with the school calendar, Patterson and the students work together to produce as much food as they can for the institution while also experimenting with new techniques. Every year, the greenhouse and the rest of the class face new challenges.

The main objective of the class is to give the students a strong understanding of the plant-to-harvest process and teach them to complete those steps on their own.  Patterson serves as an advisor before letting the students handle the greenhouse on their own.

Call Hillcrest Academy at (319) 656-2073 or visit their website at www.hillcrestravens.org for more information or to arrange a visit.