Farming is one of the most important things in the world as it provides people everywhere with the food needed for survival. At OH, that skill is recognized and encouraged at the school’s very own Panther Farms.
“I came up with the idea because I wanted to teach our students the different ways to grow food for themselves,” said Sarah Duffy, a Life Skills teacher in the Social Education department and the head of Panther Farms.
“It initially started with wanting to grow things out in a courtyard here,” Duffy added. “That ended up not being feasible. And then later on, I… found a grant… to start Panther Farms.”
Located in room 37, Panther Farms is OH’s very own hydroponic system, which is a way to grow plants without soil by using nutrient-rich water. It is run by Duffy and students who are part of the special education programs, selling a large range of products, like vegetables.
“We’ve made Caprese salads, we’ve made pesto. We’ve just made a variety of different foods with everything that we’ve grown, and we get to take it home for their families,” said Duffy.
The farm’s produce can be used by both students and staff at OH. “It’s open to anyone,” said Duffy. “Students are more than welcome to come in and check it out if they want to purchase or see anything.”
Goodness at Panther Farms comes in many forms: beyond offering students an opportunity to gain valuable skills, it also provides several types of culinary herbs for sale like rosemary, thyme, and sage.
“I used it for my poultry, and I actually sprinkled some rosemary on top of the rolls that I baked, and then I also put some in the potatoes,” said OH English teacher Beth Prigodich, who purchased items from Panther Farms this fall.
Compared to a retail store, the prices at Panther Farms are lower than usual, with everything at $4.00
“The prices were excellent, and the amount of herbs that I got compared to what you would get in the store…, and the quality of the herbs [is] way better through Panther Farm,” said Prigodich.
Overall, Panther Farms is a unique experience for both members of the program and the students and staff of OH.
“I would recommend it to everyone who is able to purchase,” Prigodich added.
You can just call me Max. I write about things that interest me. This is my second year on the team and I'm in 12th grade. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication
