Two Fayette County schools receive grants from West Virginia Department of Education

OAK HILL, WV (WVNS) — Two Fayette County schools have received grants to keep their curriculums growing.

The West Virginia Department of Education awarded Oak Hill High School and Fayette PK-8 $15,000 each in order to expand one thing – their gardens.

The Farm to School grants will allow each garden program the chance to grow into something larger.

Aleah Denny, Health Teacher for Oak Hill High School, said their portion of the grant has basically already been spent.

“That grant is going to allow us to get a high tunnel so that we can expand our current gardening program and that way we can garden year-round,” said Denny. “We’re also going to use the money to buy a shed which is much needed so that way we can keep our tools and supplies nice and safe and locked up.”

Denny is excited for the chance to introduce her students to new crops and possibly even offer the garden program to all of her health classes.

The program is only available for her Lifetime Fitness course. The garden has only been able to grow cold weather crops such as sugar snap peas and lettuce.

Abagaille Lamb, a junior at Oak Hill High School, said she has grown something aside from crops by being in this program.

“I’m big on gardening at home, so I’ve tried most of the stuff, but I enjoy having more of an educational part of it,” explained Lamb.

Lamb said she cannot wait to be able to grow a larger variety of produce and learn more about high tunnel gardening.

Isaiah Webb, a sophomore in the Lifetime Fitness course, said though they will be able to expand the program, he is still just as excited to be harvesting the crops they have already planted this year.

“Probably the carrots. We just planted them, this is the first time trying to grow them here. First time that I know of, at least,” said Webb.

Denny said the nineteen students in her Lifetime Fitness course can not wait to expand their garden and grow a variety of produce all year long.

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