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EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. () — A local high school is teaching its students all about self-sustainability through its Future Farmers of America (FFA) program.
Not only are they learning how to grow their own produce and other plants. They are also raising chickens and learning lifelong skills.
“Nice to know if, like anything were to ever happen, like I could easily grow plants and, like, not have to depend on something else and not have to depend on grocery stores,” junior Jordan Blissett told News 3.
South Effingham is teaching its students the way of the land through its Future Farmers of America Program. The program consists of many agricultural realms including the skill of horticulture.
“We have broken our record already on the first day and we’ve sold so many more plants and we first envisioned we have a bunch of different varieties. We have our herbs and vegetables and also some indoor and outdoor plants as well,” senior Sofia Piraino said.
Agriculture teacher Alisha Richardson says it’s vital to know how to grow your own food because it makes you self-reliant.
“With the rising cost of food in the grocery stores and things like that. The students need to know how to grow their own food and being able to grow a vegetable at home or even planting in their yard is something, a skill that they’ll have for forever. So, we are teaching that lifelong skill here,” added Richardson
Students nurtured plants from seedlings and they hatched chicks from eggs. Many say the experience taught them a new level of responsibility and independence.
“Well. I’ve never had something like this where I can start off from scratch and grow these plants and then actually see the results of them,” Piraino explained. “Like, all of these were grown by the students. So it’s really cool that the community will also support the students.”
“Only makes me feel more independent and I’m able to look forward to being able to grow my own plants at home because we have a whole garden now and we’re able to rely on that instead of having to go to the grocery store all the time,” freshman Brennley Drossopoulos said.
The plant sale ended today, but Mrs. Richardson informed me that she will open the greenhouse after spring break on April 8 from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for the public to purchase the remaining produce and plants.
