The Greenhouse of Red Cloud

Greenhouse, outside and in. Photos by Shawnta' Jones '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

The Greenhouse of Red Cloud

By Shawnta' Jones '14

Have you ever walked across Red Cloud's campus and noticed a very large dome near the football field and asked yourself, "What is this very large dome?" Well, I'm here to answer that very question. That massive dome is Red Cloud's very own greenhouse. It keeps a steady temperature throughout all four seasons without the use of any fuel or electricity. This greenhouse is an opportunity for students to grow plants and observe the work. It was funded through the Toyota Foundation grant as the major project for year three of the grant. The construction costs were about $30,000. “The purpose of the greenhouse is to provide a living laboratory for the students of Red Cloud Indian School,” said science teacher Wendell Gehman. “Red Cloud purchased it to provide a new option and venue for teaching science.” With the new addition of the greenhouse, Red Cloud science classes will be able to perform long- term experiments in a controlled environment.  Red Cloud School is still in the process of designing the interior raised beds, so they are still in the planning stages. Many students, teachers, and visitors are very curious about the large dome and what is growing in there. “At the moment, nothing is growing in the greenhouse, but we will have plans to use it for several projects ranging from growing and propagating heirloom species, plants that have traditional uses, and perhaps even starter vegetables,” said Gehman.  You can also read about the greenhouse here.

An in-depth, exclusive view INSIDE the dome. Featuring Shawnta' Jones '14.