In Caldwell: ‘Greenhouse Garden’ Coming To Grover Cleveland Middle School

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — Things are about to get greener at Grover Cleveland Middle School (GCMS) in Caldwell.

According to a recent school news release, GCMS Principal James Brown of Grover Cleveland Middle School (GCMS) has helped the school secure a $5,000 grant from BASF. The funds will be used to purchase and install a “Greenhouse Garden” for students, teachers, families and community members to “connect learning with living as responsible citizens of Earth,” officials said.

School administrators said that the GCMS Greenhouse project will help children and adults to expand their knowledge about organic gardening, natural resources, nutrition and environmental impact. In addition, the greenhouse will provide hands-on experiences to enhance the curriculum and “be a place for students across all grade levels to learn about plant life cycles and observe a variety of plants developing before their eyes.”

The Greenhouse Garden will also serve as outdoor classrooms where all students can go for reading, writing, reflecting, meeting and “peace building,” school administrators said.

Administrators said that the school’s Ecology/4H Club will support the gardens through whole school composting and rain barrels for watering. GCMS will explore partnerships with the school cafeteria, local food pantries, farmers’ markets, and local restaurants as potential ways that the greenhouse can provide “farm to table” benefits for the Caldwell-West Caldwell community.

The BASF Corporation awards grants each year to support science education programs throughout the state of New Jersey. The awarded grants enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related initiatives for students grades K-12.

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