BGM FFA joins HLV in opening new greenhouses

​        Madelynn Doty, a BGM tenth grader and FFA member, waters hanging baskets at the newly opened BGM FFA Greenhouse located at 1092 Jackson St. on Saturday, May 4, the first day of business. The greenhouse offers customers fresh veggies, herbs, hanging baskets and an array of individual flowers. Funds raised at the greenhouse will go towards purchasing supplies for the next year.

By J.O. Parker
 
        If you are looking for fresh veggies, herbs, hanging flower baskets or an array of individual flowers for your garden or porch, look no further than the new BGM FFA Greenhouse.
         Located at 1092 Jackson St., the greenhouse is west of the football field and south of the ball diamonds. Follow the driveway past the Bear Creek Kids Campus to get to the greenhouse.
          The BGM greenhouse opened its doors on Saturday, May 4.
      Customers have their choice of fresh veggies such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers and herbs including parsley, chives and cilantro, all for $3 each.
          There is also a variety of hanging baskets for $25 each and individual flowers available for $4 each.
          The greenhouse was the idea of Morgan Dietrich, the agriculture teacher at HLV and BGM. 
       Dietrich said there had been discussion for several years about building a greenhouse in Victor. She thought it would be a good idea to also build one in Brooklyn.
          “I wanted to give the students at BGM the same opportunity as the students at HLV,” she said.
          The HLV FFA Greenhouse is located in Victor by the practice field. It opened on Saturday, April 27.
        Both greenhouses were built in September 2023 thanks in part to grant money, donations and the selling of mums at each school in the fall.
         The grant money was also used to purchase soil, seeds, plugs and pots to get the greenhouse started.
FFA students at both schools planted all the flowers, veggies and herbs during the last week of February and have been tending to the greenhouses prior to opening day. They are also charged with watering the plants and helping customers.
        “All the money raised will go toward purchasing next year’s supplies and plants,” said Dietrich.
       “It’s fun to be at the greenhouse and interact with the customers,” said Connie Schott, a tenth grader at BGM and FFA member who was working at the greenhouse on opening day. “I enjoy helping the customers pick out plants and vegetables. I also help with watering and tending to the plants.”
       “FFA is a great opportunity to learn skills that I will need in life,” said Madelynn Doty, a BGM tenth grader and FFA member helping at the greenhouse on opening day.
     “We have learned a lot this year,” said Dietrich. “We have a lot more to learn. So far the community support has been fabulous.”
      The BGM greenhouse will be open through Saturday, May 18. Hours are Monday – Friday, 7:30 – 10:30 a.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
        Cash and checks are accepted. Make checks out to BGM FFA Greenhouse.
        For more information, contact Dietrich at 319-430-6192 or via email at [email protected].

​       Laura Manatt, right, and daughter, Payton, check out some of the individual flowers offered at the newly opened BGM FFA Greenhouse in Brooklyn on Saturday, May 4. Also available are hanging baskets, veggies and herbs. The greenhouse is located at 1092 Jackson St.

​        Customers enter the newly opened BGM FFA Greenhouse located at 1092 Jackson St. on Saturday, May 4. The greenhouse offers customers fresh veggies, herbs, hanging baskets and an array of individual flowers. BGM FFA students plant and water all the flowers, veggies and herbs. They also help customers and make sells.