Bonny Eagle Middle School was recently awarded a 2009 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant of $5,000 in support of efforts with Rippling Waters Farm in Steep Falls for an on-campus greenhouse.

To date, $33,000 of the $50,000 construction cost has been raised by grants from the United States Department of Agriculture, private foundations and donations from local businesses and individuals, in addition to the grant from the Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation.

The greenhouse is being built to educate students to participate in the production of the food they consume. Students will experientially learn the process of sustainable vegetable gardening from soil preparation through harvesting while engaging in activities with their teachers and staff from Rippling Waters Farm. The garden lessons in this facility will be linked to the students’ academic curriculum in all subject areas in fun and interesting ways. The solar powered greenhouse will become a veritable classroom, an environment to cultivate minds and relationships as well as vegetables. Food that is not incorporated into the daily lunch program at the school will be donated.

The greenhouse at Bonny Eagle Middle School is part of a wider initiative, Saco Valley Food Connections by Rippling Waters Farm, to improve the agricultural infrastructure of communities, promote greater food security and reduce obesity. This effort consists of gardens at two other schools, two senior centers, and a paid summer youth apprenticeship program. The program has also donated 20,000 pounds of fresh organic produce to local food pantries each year.

A dinner and silent auction will be held at the middle school on April 14 at 6 p.m. to help raise the remaining funds. Please contact Rippling Waters Farm at 642-5161, or visit www.ripplingwaters.org for more information.