Hempstead High School

3715 Pennsylvania Ave.

Hempstead launched their garden in April 2011 as part of the Green Vision Education program and the Wading Pool Garden program. The success behind Hempstead’s garden is it’s model of student engagement through what they call the “Green Team”. This team of students help maintain the garden, implement composting, and organize projects. In addition to the green team, teachers and faculty are utilizing the garden as an outdoor classroom space.

Layout of Garden:

School composting program

Hempstead utilizes composting tumblers and static compost bins to transform food waste from the cafeteria into usable compost for the
garden. They currently have 7 tumbler composters which they utilize primarily during the fall and winter months, along with a three-bin composting unit near the garden.

Rain Collection

This school garden has also installed a rain collection system, which is positioned up the hill from the garden with future hopes to install drip irrigation, powered solely by gravity.

 

 

Greenhouse 

In 2013 Hempstead School Garden installed a greenhouse to start seeds and serve as a learning platform for students.

 

 

Raised garden beds and outdoor classroom

In 2013-2014, as part of a Girl Scout Gold Award, Alyssa Mendenhall, planned, designed, and constructed raised garden beds made of up-cycled garage door panels. In addition, she built outdoor classroom seating and a three-bin composting system using recycled pallets.

Fruit Trees 

In 2016, in partnership with Trees Forever, through grants awarded by Alliant Energy and Black Hills Energy, Hempstead planted 30 trees on school grounds, 8 of which were fruit trees (apple and pear).

Future Projects:

Hempstead is working on a plan to implement drip irrigation. They will also be seeking resources for solar panels to power their greenhouse, materials and infrastructure to the garden so the garden can be made accessible to all students.

For more pictures and updates, visit our Dubuque School Garden facebook page!

Hempstead High School Garden is still in the process of acquiring materials and resources to accomplish their projects and visions for their garden. If you are interested in helping them fulfill their goals, want to get involved, or have questions, please complete the contact form below.