Bridgehampton Union Free School
Challenge – Controlled growing environment for instruction
Solution – GrowSpan Gothic Pro Greenhouse
Size – 30′ wide x 36′ long
Application – Space to use as a laboratory, growing area and classroom for students
Bridgehampton Union Free School is a small pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school set in an area with a centuries-old agricultural history. Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz, a teacher, says the school “has made a commitment to promote good nutritional practices and healthy eating habits in school-aged children.” With a lack of growing space, the students and teachers were forced to grow their crops on a plant stand with all artificial lighting in an unheated storage area in the school’s basement. The students at Bridgehampton were having little success and needed a better growing space to enhance their learning.
After receiving a recommendation from a local farmer, who is also a parent at the school, Carmack-Fayyaz and Bridgehampton Union Free School chose a Gothic Pro Greenhouse from Growers Supply as their new laboratory, growing space and classroom. Carmack-Fayyaz explains, “As a place to teach students botany and agricultural production, the greenhouse is invaluable.”
Due to the large open space the greenhouse provides, Bridgehampton Union Free School has found some surprise benefits of the structure. Says Carmack-Fayyaz, “Ironically, the greenhouse has become our largest classroom space in the school. It has been used for meetings, fundraisers and for growing produce for our school cafeteria.” She continues, “The greenhouse has provided a wonderful learning space for a group of motivated students who are quite unique and do not necessarily fall within the mainstream of the student population.”
The Bridgehampton Union Free School was able to outfit their greenhouse with all the accessories they needed to create the ideal growing environment for their students. Some of these accessories include a heater, exhaust fans and thermostat, all from Growers Supply. Carmack-Fayyaz concludes, “The greenhouse has created an environment which not only nourishes plants, but also nourishes children. The greenhouse and garden have created close friendships among our students, who come regularly on weekends and during the summer to spend time taking care of the plants. We are very happy.”
For more information on how Growers Supply helped Bridgehampton Union Free School, please contact Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz at jcfayyaz@gmail.com.
