Despite the cold, plants thrive inside Clinton Township school
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By Robin Schwartz FOX 2 News
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJBK) -- Outdoor gardening season is over but at one local middle school, plants are thriving inside a special greenhouse.
Susan Berger, teacher consultant at Clintondale Middle School in Clinton Township started what she calls 'lunchtime garden class' inside the school's greenhouse. It sat empty for years until Mrs. Berger and her students brought it back to life.
So much so that it's flourishing with fresh fruits and vegetables and students are getting an extra education in gardening.
"I want them to have the fun of seeing things grow," said Berger. "I want them to know where their food comes from. I want them to see more than just cement and their TV screens and video games. So many kids are just limited to that."
The greenhouse provides hands-on lessons that foster environmental awareness. The students couldn't wait to show us what they've grown and share the fruits of their labor.
Budgets are tight and there's no funding for the greenhouse so students and staff members bring in the plants. Mrs. Berger buys many of them and the students won $500 worth of gardening tools in an online competition.
"It used to be your grandma or your mom and dad had a garden, and most people work now and they don't have time to spend with their kids doing things like this," said Berger. "And so I think this really fills a need."
Mrs. Berger says it turns out nourishing the plants also nourishes students' development and helps these young people thrive and that is what really make is this greenhouse bloom.
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