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By Chinook's Edge School Division

Equipment To Arrive This Fall

Spruce View School receives $20,000 board grant for student-led hydroponics project

Jun 19, 2024 | 3:08 PM

Students at Spruce View School were delighted to learn, recently, that the school will receive a $20,000 grant from the Chinook’s Edge School Board.

Spruce View students plan to use the funds to purchase hydroponics equipment so they can grow vegetable crops year round. This is the latest project to receive a Flourishing Stories and Innovation Grant.

“We’re pleased to see the efforts of the students rewarded,” said Claire Funk, Principal of Spruce View School. “They worked hard at developing the submission to the board. They have a great idea and we believe it will grow now that we have the Board’s seed money in place.”

The idea started with teacher Rick Dunnigan, who teaches Career and Technology Studies at the school, as well as math and science. Dunnigan approached administration and asked to offer an enterprise and innovation class, so that students would have the opportunity to develop a project and learn the lessons from the process, including how to apply for a grant.

Then, with students enrolled, the brainstorming began.

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“We were looking for something that would meet the conditions of the school, and keep in mind the criteria of the grant too,” said Dunnigan, “and what we landed on was hydroponics.”

“I hope that our school becomes known for agricultural education,” said student Austin Noirot, a Grade 10 student. “We are starting with hydroponics but I am hoping we can go much bigger to include chickens, and crop growing for instance.” Noirot said he thinks the focus is a good fit in an agricultural area, and it’s the agricultural focus that made him excited about the class and the project.

Grade 10 student Jackson Walsh had a different reason for being a part of the project. “I am interested in business and marketing, and I’m thinking about studying that in post-secondary. I thought this would be a good way to test the waters.”

“I like planning a project as a whole and sequencing and sculpting the organization of it all. I like expressing creativity in this way, and throwing ideas at the wall to see if they will land. I’m excited to see this idea get up and running,” added Walsh.

Noirot and Walsh worked well with other students to form a team, with each bringing different interests and skills, said Dunnigan.

“Everyone learned from each other,” said Dunnigan. “We operate kind of like an ecosystem,” agreed Walsh. Dunnigan said a second class was also important to the beginning of the project; a class where students learn the ins-and-outs of growing plants, which will support the project.

This spring the class used an existing greenhouse to grow vegetables, flower medley pots and hydrangeas. Students sold the plants after a school event last week, and proceeds will help purchase supplies needed for the hydroponics project.

“I liked learning more about plants,” said Natalie Marx, a Grade 10 student. “There’s a lot to learn. It’s more than just seeds, dirt and water,” she said. Marx added that she liked gaining the knowledge because,“it’s a survival skill to grow your own food.”

Learning they had been successful in applying for the grant was an exciting moment, the students said. “I still remember where I was when I found out,” said Walsh. “Yeah, Mr. Dunnigan came up to us and said it so casually,” said Noirot. “But there was so much feeling and emotion behind that,” said Walsh. “We worked hard to earn that. It is so gratifying to have received the grant. It’s a dream come true.”

“I was so surprised,” said Noirot. “And it’s great. It seems like other schools always have this happen to them, and now this time it’s us!”

“It was an amazing moment,” said Dunnigan. “I thought at the time – that’s amazing – and also now we have our work cut out for us. Now the work begins. We need to deliver on our goals. Also, I thought about how proud I am of these students. They set a goal, and together they achieved it.”

Dunnigan said the hydroponics equipment has been ordered and will arrive in the fall. The school selected a double sided mobile cart with the ability to produce 360 plants at a time, and provide enough light even in Canadian winters. The school plans to produce lettuce, cucumbers, and possibly green peppers and tomatoes. The class will provide plants to the school’s foods classes, and plans to sell plants to the community as well.

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