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Thomson-McDuffie Middle School recently opened its new greenhouse.
The school hasn’t had a greenhouse for its agricultural program since it moved to its current building on White Oak Road in 2010, though it did have one at its previous location.
The new facility was funded with a $75,000 Perkins Fund Capital Improvement Grant.
“It really helps as far as letting the students grow plants any time of the year, no matter what the weather is,” said agriculture teacher Jay Murray.
It will largely be used to start plants for a vegetable garden, which is tended by students.
The greenhouse has a hard side on it, which is resistent to weather and better protects plants. A solid concrete floor resists weeds better than the rock floor the old facility had. It also has a cooling pad and several fans to help keep plants at a constant temperature. The mist system is time-regulated, and chemicals and fertilizers can be administered through the sprayers.
