The Blue Springs School District’s agricultural science program recently received plenty of room to grow with The Blue Springs Planning Commission approving a site plan for a 1,800-square-foot greenhouse to be built west of 15th Street on Northwest Vesper Street, behind the Blue Springs Freshman Center. The greenhouse, made possible through a grant from the Department of Elementray and Secondary Education, will allow students in Agricultural Science I and II classes to grow a variety of vegetables, perennials, herbs and annuals while getting a hands-on demonstration of plant science.

We just don’t have a lot of kids that grow up on farms these days," said Agricultural Science teacher Erica Thieman. "What the greenhouse will allow our kids to have is great hands-on learning. You just can’t learn plant science out of a textbook. Each student will have a section of the greenhouse that is just for them to grow things."

The greenhouse will also have the latest technology with automatic irrigation, a motorized shade system and the ability to utilize a hydroponic system. "It’s nice to see the kids already excited about it," Thieman said. "We hope to have it up and running by February and are planning a big spring plant sale in April to kick things off." There are currently 57 students in the district’s agricultural science program. Jugo Plus Architects, St. Louis, will build the greenhouse facility.