Granville Schools Sustainability Project

There is a tremendous movement going on in Licking County regarding biodiversity and the re-naturalization of our landscape. Students at Denison, Doug Swift and the "Reporting Project" have done a great job telling that inspirational story. We are excited that the Granville Land Lab is being recognized for its small role in the transformation. Check the link for more information.

https://njdenisonu.shorthandstories.com/the-land-remembers/index.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawPNEXxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFzY3lrWGVsRGtsQjNrdGIwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvJHQVPyrn7xH818LUilXhwHtKX4XOPAn-t0LiwKcJpW5pAzS24IxI3IHGv2_aem_u7nOuYb1x_2oOQsBHsn1gQ

The land remembers Licking County once possessed an abundance of natural resources. Now developed and ever-stressed, there is a growing community working to maintain, preserve and restore biodiversity.

Friday wrapped up the first two weeks of the aerobic digester being used in all four lunch periods at the high school and middle school. Santi Quijano (AP Environmental Science Student) had a great plan and over 20 students from the high school volunteered during their ACE periods, study halls and lunches periods to put Santi's plan into action. In his presentation to the student body, Santi indicated that the objective is no food waste, but that diverting food from land fills and into the aerobic digester is a great alternative. A huge "thank you" to the Granville School district and administrators, AVI food service and all the students eating lunch in the cafeteria. This is only possible with your support.

Been harvesting pawpaws for the last two weeks. Good yield from the school garden this year.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/j7SHT74ygXfEi1us/?mibextid=QwDbR1

When students are working on projects that they are passionate about, the “grade” becomes rerelevant and the work transcends the classroom. Case in point… the aerobic digester is in the building!

I am excited to share that Casey Laughbaum and Alli Messner were able to “cut the ribbon” on the new aerobic digester with George Hunyadi from Earthpeak Solutions before they headed off for college. The system is connected and will be operational for the first quarter of the school year. They spent two years making this dream a reality and its impact will be their legacy. Passion wins!

Proud to be associated with such a great movement!

Native plants and habitats taking back central Ohio.

We were honored to be one of the stops on the 2024 Urban Youth Garden Symposium Tour hosted by The Ohio State University. It’s exciting to see the school garden movement alive and well in Central Ohio.

A huge “Thank You” to all who helped get our garden and Land Lab ready. As I have said in the past, it takes a village (like Granville). A special thanks to my students, my wife Kim and my kids, my sister Sue, my in-laws Cheryl and Warren, and Julie Chaykowski and her father-in-law, who stepped in last minute to mow the trails. To say it would not have gotten done without them is an understatement

One of the greatest qualities of our Take Action Projects is when they go beyond the classroom, both in impact and application. The aerobic digester, that was just approved by the school board, is a perfect example. During the 2022-2023 school year, four students work all year on the problem of food waste in the school district. Their proposed solution was an aerobic digestor that would turn that waste into a nutrient rich fertilizer and soil amender for the school garden, the agroforestry area at the Land Lab and the community. This year, two of those students (Casey Laughbaum and Alli Messner) continued the project by negotiating a price and by securing funds from the Granville Kiwanis, Granville Rotary and the school district. They now have the approval from the school board and the funding, to go ahead with their project. In the United States, over 40% of our food is landfilled. Thanks to the resilience, critical thinking and empathy of these students, that will no longer be the case in our district! Look for the aerobic digester to be up and running this spring and reach out if you would like a tour.

Three Granville Envirothon Teams competed at the Tri-county competition on Tuesday, April 9th at Taft Nature Preserve in Newark. The three Granville teams placed first, second and fifth out of 25 area teams. This is the first competition of the season, but expectations are high. A win at the Area 3 competition in two weeks will mean a third trip to the State Competition for the team of Emma Reding, Emma Federer, Casey Laughbaum, Ian Lancaster and Luke Harleman. Granville also has the potential to qualify additional teams to the State meet for the first time since 2016. Let’s Go!

Thanks to the LCSWCD for running the event and to the Hebron Fish Hatchery (ODNR) for a tour after the competition.

Great new program at the GIS…

https://www.facebook.com/share/zWePNAQVVKg4LKdi/?mibextid=QwDbR1

New garden club brings monarch butterflies, native plants and a popcorn garden to Granville Intermediate School - The Reporting Project - Covering Licking County, Ohio Garden Club is brand new this year at GIS, and leaders are taking on a significant challenge: getting students away from their phones and televisions.

Finally, a March bracket I have a chance with…

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gYanGDVHWUGHKoS1/?mibextid=QwDbR1

Granville Schools Land Lab Certified as a WILD School Site

GRANVILLE, Ohio – Granville Schools Land Lab in Licking County was recently dedicated as a WILD School Site, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Granville Schools is the 206th WILD School Site in Ohio and the seventh in Licking County.

The Land Lab at Granville Schools consists of almost 100 acres and is an essential component to students and wildlife alike. Prairies containing more than 30 species of flowering plants and early successional woodlots provide food and shelter for wildlife. Four wetlands and one vernal pool were installed on the property and are managed for migrating waterfowl and wading birds. Nest boxes for bluebirds, wood ducks, kestrels, owls, and bats as well as hawk posts and mallard nesting tubes have been installed throughout the property. Students have documented 176 bird species in the Land Lab.

Every year, hundreds of students ranging from kindergarten to college at Denison University use the Land Lab. It was created by students as part of an Advanced Placement Environmental Science “Take Action” project and continues to expand and evolve every year through the hard work of students. Through this new WILD School Site, students will be inspired to make a difference in wildlife conservation.

The WILD School Sites program, administered in Ohio by the Division of Wildlife, is considered an action extension of the national Project WILD program. Any educational property used by students, educators, and the local community as a place to learn about and benefit from wildlife and the environment can be certified. The sites function within the premise that every site, regardless of size and location, can provide outdoor educational opportunities that can and should be part of an integrated environmental education program. WILD School Sites that demonstrate program development and site enhancement consistent with the premises outlined in this program are eligible for certification as an official Ohio WILD School Site.

Learn more about WILD School Sites and outdoor education opportunities at wildohio.gov.
The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

Granville Schools Sustainability Project