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GCVI students growing food, building community space through Green Industries course

June 6, 2016

GUELPH, Ontario – Tending to the flood table, installing solar panels and landscaping – it’s all in a day’s work in Guelph CVI’s Green Industries class.

The course introduces students to the various sectors of the green industries – training future landscapers, florists, urban agriculturists and horticulturalists.

Through the course, which operates in a number of UGDSB schools with support of the board’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program, students develop an awareness of environmental and societal issues related to green industry activities, learn about safe and healthy working practices, and explore secondary and post-secondary education and training pathways and career opportunities in the various industry sectors.

In Mr. Chaves grade 11/12 class at GCVI, students are taking using lessons to grow food for the school cafeteria, build community garden space, install solar panels on the school’s outdoor classroom, and more.

On a recent tour of the classroom, students demonstrated their knowledge and commitment to see a project through – from the design stage to completion.

In one corner of the classroom, students are designing gardens for the school grounds from the ground up. Plans are sketched out on paper, then laid out digitally using the RealTime Landscaping computer program, and material costs are tallied.

In the other corner of the room is the class’s flood table and hydroponics system. Students built the system from scratch and maintained the growing plants throughout the semester. Food grown in the classroom gets used in the school, and students and parents also tour through to learn more about the process and to taste the fresh veggies.

Outside, students prepare the outdoor classroom for the installation of solar panels and LED lights. Eventually a community garden will be a feature of the outdoor space. Starting next year, students will begin growing plants inside, then plant them outdoors in the spring for the entire school community to enjoy.

It’s just one part of a course that connects students to both the environment and the larger school community, while preparing them for careers in the green industries.

Sound interesting? Read more about the board’s SHSM programs in Agriculture, Environment, and Horticulture and Landscaping.

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