Colorful flowers, tasty vegetables and creative floral arrangements brought community members to the renovated Denair High greenhouse last weekend for a spring plant sale hosted by the school’s FFA members.
The event was the latest step after nearly a year’s worth of work by Denair’s 118 FFA students and their instructors. And though many plants and bouquets were snapped Saturday, there still are some that can be purchased at Turlock Feed and Livestock Supply or by appointment at the high school. Officials ask people to call the office at (209) 632-9911 to set up a time after school to come check out what is available.
So far, about $2,000 has been raised – money that will be plowed back into the FFA program.
Before anything could happen, the greenhouse – which was built in 2006, but hadn’t been used in a few years – had to be prepared. That work took place last fall. By February, it was ready to go and students in Denair’s Farm to Fork class began planting the first flower and vegetable seeds.
The plants were nurtured until Saturday, when the students and staff threw open the doors, invited members of the community in and held their first plant sale since 2011.
“Our greenhouse hadn’t been in use for a while before this year, so it took a lot of hard work and dedication to get it up and running again,” said ag paraeducator Christian Obando.
The public had a bevy of eye-catching inventory from which to choose, including:
- Flowers (marigolds, petunias, cosmos and zinnias)
- Succulents
- Vegetables like tomatoes (beefsteak, Roma and heirloom); peppers (jalapeno, habanero and sweet), cucumbers and squash
- Herbs (basil, cilantro, parsley and dill)
- Fruit (watermelon and cantaloupe)
In addition, there was a build your own bouquet bar where customers were able to select from a three-stem bud vase arrangement for $10, a 10-stem Mason jar arrangement for $25 or a 12-stem bouquet for $30. After buyers picked their preferred stems, students in the floral arrangement class brought their ideas to life. The bouquets included flowers grown by the students as well as 80 sunflower stems donated by a community member.
The day included other fun activities like rock painting for kids, bouquet making and grow your own garden.
Students from the high school’s Project Life special education class also were on hand to man the Coyote Cup of Kindness drink cart, which had lemonade and other refreshments up for sale.
Obando said a goal that he and ag instructors Roger Christianson and Aime Snell share for the department and their students is to continue to renovate and update the greenhouse. New equipment will allow students to produce more food that can be used in the district’s kitchens in addition to growing flowers and veggies for future plant sales, which could include poinsettias at Christmas time.
Community members interested in contributing materials or money to the greenhouse project should contact the Denair High ag department.
