New Greenhouse is Tip of the Iceberg at Loughborough PS

Wilma Kenny | May 04, 2022

An unusual-looking greenhouse has very recently appeared at the southeast corner of Loughborough Public School. It’s a tall dome, constructed of large flat triangles of a tough plexiglass material designed by the company Arctic Acres for greenhouse use in severe winters. Inside, a long narrow ‘heat-sink’ pond curves along the north wall, and the ceiling’s high enough it could accommodate a good-sized apple or orange tree.

Even more amazing than the structure itself is the way it got there: it owes much to the persistent dedication of Alan MacDonald, a senior grade teacher, and his students. For the past several years MacDonald has encouraged his students to volunteer and learn in the food bank gardens at South Frontenac Community Services. Three years ago, a graduating class was asked to choose what legacy they would like to leave to their public school. There were lots of suggestions, some pretty fanciful and impractical. But the idea of a school greenhouse and a community kitchen came up more than once, and was eventually chosen as being both a good idea and with the realm of possibility. That class is now in their third year of high school, and their dream is just now becoming a reality. MacDonald verifies that it’s taken lot of hard work, frustration, determination. community participation and fundraising to arrive at this point.

Among many related activities, student teams worked up and rehearsed a “Dragon’s Den” presentation: the “Dragons” included School Board representatives, teachers and community members, and the student presentations had to be thorough and very well thought out.

A large amount of money was raised: students sold surplus produce from the foodbank gardens where they had been learning a range of horticultural techniques, including use of a greenhouse for sprouting seedlings, and the Aboriginal companion planting of the “three sisters” — corn, squash and beans. (One of a number of Aboriginal lessons about caring and respect for the natural world.) The Cataraqui/Kingston branch of the Rotary Club became the project lead in raising a large contribution from Rotary (the greenhouse became their signature centennial project)., The Limestone School Board not only approved the drawings but committed a generous amount of funding, and the Kingston Community Foundation awarded a grant. Trousdale’s Home Hardware helped furnish and equip the community kitchen, which will be used for teaching and preparation of school lunch events such as a recent salad bar.

And so the project continues; we look forward to an “Official Opening!”

(Editors note. This item was first published with a misspelling of Loughborough Public School as Logour PS)