Freeman said she wrote a grant to the Polk County Community Foundation requesting an addition be built onto the greenhouse in order to solve the space issue, and she is hoping to hear back from the foundation soon.
Freeman said learning about trade is important for her students because it is a major part of society, and practicing it in school will help them be prepared to make purchases or sell products on their own. She also said learning how to grow plants is important because gardening could be a potential career or hobby for any one of the students in the future.
Moira Davis, one of Freeman’s students, said smelling the plants is her favorite part about being in the greenhouse. Tyrek Dood, another student, said he liked everything about planting, and Wesley Bullman said he especially liked working with the soil.
Karandal Gary said he doesn’t like anything about growing plants, but Freeman said this experience was still good for him because now he knows he would never choose gardening as a career.
“It’s just important for them to be a part of something,” said Loretta Jackson, another Exceptional Children teacher.
According to Freeman, growing the plants has benefited her students by helping them develop job skills, socialize with other students who also work in the greenhouse and practice teamwork and patience.
She said it also introduces them to cost comparison – they get to see money being spent on seeds and will eventually see the money getting earned back at the plant sale.
“They’re learning how it works from seed to sale,” Freeman said.