Colonial Forge High School receives $5,000 Grant

Submitted By Valerie Cottongim
Stafford County Public Schools

Stafford, Va. — Colonial Forge High School received a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant for their proposal titled From the Garden to the Kitchen. The grant application was submitted based on the goal of improving the learning community at Colonial Forge.

The grant application was submitted based on the goal of improving the learning community at Colonial Forge. As part of the grant, students in the nutrition and wellness classes will plant and maintain a garden.

This project is being done in collaboration with students with disabilities who already maintain a horticulture greenhouse at Colonial Forge. The plants used in the garden will come from seedlings grown in this greenhouse.

In late summer and early fall, the crops will be harvested and preserved. Excess crops will be donated to local food banks and pantries. Project coordinator, Kathleen Mellenberg, solicited advice from Colonial Forge teachers for any suggestions for the garden.

Walter Thommaser’s technical drawing class completed the engineering drawings for the proposed garden. Several language teachers gave input on fruits and vegetables common to early American literature. The science department helped with the types of plants citing that our area would be most suitable for a Mediterranean herb garden.

The program is titled “From the Garden to the Kitchen.” The concept is to use the bedding plants produced in our greenhouse managed by the horticulture class. The nutrition classes and special education classes will plant and maintain the garden during the spring.

Volunteers will continue tending the plants throughout the summer. In the fall, crops will be harvested and the nutrition students will learn to preserve fruits and vegetables and make jams and jellies to enjoy all year round.

During the current school year, using organic fruits and vegetables, students made jams and pumpkin butter. The nutrition class promotes using organic and healthy ingredients in recipes to promote healthier eating habits. Students are learning that foods taste better with locally grown ingredients and will enjoy cooking from the Forge’s own harvest.

“This is a tremendous honor for our school to be selected for this award and truly speaks to the dedication that Mrs. Mellenberg has shown to Colonial Forge High School,” said Mike Byers, principal of Colonial Forge High School. “Our school and community will greatly benefit from this grant. We wish to thank our friends at Lowe’s for generously supporting this important project and also thank Mrs. Mellenberg for outstanding work and dedication associated with this project as well.”

All K-12 public schools in the United States are eligible for the Toolbox for Education program. More information is available at toolboxforeducation.com.