Open house to be held at new geothermal greenhouse

  • Botany students are pictured working with with Mrs. Hardin in the new geothermal greenhouse last Tuesday, Dec. 2, l-r: Lola Wingebach, Ben Werner, Mrs. Hardin and Sydnee Cheever. Gerri Peterson
    Botany students are pictured working with with Mrs. Hardin in the new geothermal greenhouse last Tuesday, Dec. 2, l-r: Lola Wingebach, Ben Werner, Mrs. Hardin and Sydnee Cheever. Gerri Peterson
  • The greenhouse is built into a hill north of the bus barn.
    The greenhouse is built into a hill north of the bus barn.
  • This photo was taken on the north side of the greenhouse, looking back towards the high school and Hilltop Gym.
    This photo was taken on the north side of the greenhouse, looking back towards the high school and Hilltop Gym.

     A new era of hands-on science education is taking root at Mullen High School with the installation of a geothermal greenhouse, made possible by a generous anonymous donation to the science department. Shortly after the project from Greenhouse in the Snow in Alliance - is designed to maintain stable temperatures year-round using geothermal heating and is located on the north end of the parking lot near the bus barn.

    The greenhouse is open for use by all teachers and grade levels, offering new opportunities for hands-on learning across a variety of subjects. To expand plant science experiences, the school also launched a new botany class this year, taught by Mrs. Hardin. Students Ben Werner, Sydnee Cheever and Lola Wingebach have taken a leading role in establishing the first plantings and setting up growing systems inside the space.

    The goal for this year’s plantings is to experiment with what grows best in the new environment. So far, the greenhouse is home to several citrus trees, various garden vegetables and flowers. In the coming months, bees will be released to aid in pollination, and turtles or lizards may be introduced to help with insect control. The greenhouse will function as a small-scale ecosystem, providing students with a living laboratory to observe natural interactions and environmental balance.

    Construction of the greenhouse was completed by the school’s head maintenance technician, Tyler Gracey, with assistance from Daniel Young and Mike Kvanvig. Their combined work resulted in a durable, energy-efficient facility built to serve students for years to come.

    A special thank you goes to the anonymous donors whose generosity launched and sustained the project. Additional support came from a CTE grant from the Nebraska Department of Education, as well as grants from the Upper Loup NRD and the Turner Foundation, all of which helped make the greenhouse a reality.

    An open house will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. next Tuesday, Dec. 16, giving community members the opportunity to explore the new facility and learn more about the project.