Students at H.T. Jones Elementary will return from their holiday break to a massive surprise at their school. Community leaders recently broke ground on the new greenhouse and community garden on the school’s playground.

This collaboration known as the NextGEN (gardening, education, nutrition) Project, is a partnership between Jones Elementary, the City of Prairie View and Prairie View A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, students and residents will be able to grow plants and learn proper techniques in farming and agriculture. Corporate partner East Texas Precast provided donations for the initial phase of the project, which resulted in raised cement garden beds and soil installation. That means students will be able to plant seeds as soon as they return to school.

The City of Prairie View Mayor, David Allen, Prairie View’s Police Chief, Anthony Solomon, CAHS Dean and Director of Land Grant Programs, Dr. Gerard D’Souza and PVAMU Veterinary Assistant Chandra Adams were all present for the donation. Adams has played an integral role in organizing this team to work on this project, and she’s enthused about its progress. She said this would open a new world to Jones Elementary students. “I believe the students will be excited when they see

[the garden beds]. [The team is] doing a great job so far and it’s just been an exciting project. I can’t wait to see the kids when they start to plant and get their hands involved. We’re getting them more involved with agriculture and teaching them from the soil to the table.”

Mayor Allen is also excited about the project and the vast potential it has to educate students and expand the relationships between the participating agencies. “We’re looking to build, start or enhance the relations between the city, the university and the business community. Relationships like these are paramount. With Jones being at the foot of the university, Jones should be one of the premiere elementary schools in the country.”

This project will continue throughout the Spring of 2019 with the next phase of building a hoop-house developing soon.

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Evans-Allen 1890 Research Formula Program projects under Section 1445.

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Taelor Smith
Communications Specialist
tasmith@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5155