School and Senior Projects

The Horticulture/Greenhouse Classes have been involved in many beautification and education projects right on campus of Newberg High School.

NHS Greenhouse Green Roof Senior Project: Spencer Coleman 2014 graduate of NHS did this project for his senior project. The plans for the Green Roof structure were exactly the same as the Green Roof structure at the downtown Newberg Waterwise Garden. Spencer did an excellent job of constructing the wood frame and roof with the help/mentoring of a local building contractor and some friends. Spencer also provided the membrane to seal the roof and the green roof plants themselves were provided by Spencer’s families’ business – KCK farms. The Green Roof structure is located adjacent to the south parking lot at NHS near the Greenhouse facility and serves as a welcoming entrance to the Greenhouse grounds. We are very pleased with the outcome of Spencer’s fine workmanship. Visit us during the plant sale every weekend of May to view this wonderful Senior project, produced by one of NHS’ recent graduates.

Cold House Remodels/Construction: An aging cold frame was remodeled and a new cold frame was constructed to give additional space for plant protection/housing and sales space.

Herb garden: An herb garden was constructed so that NHS Culinary students would have access to fresh herbs.  Two Horticulture students took this on as a senior project.  They cleared the space, built a retaining wall, filled the garden with composted soil and planted the herbs the culinary program requested.  The herb garden is right out the back door of the culinary classrooms, offering easy access to fresh herbs.

Rock garden, near J Building:  The renovation of the garden area east of the J Building began with the removal of invasive English Ivy.  Rocks were added to terrace the garden and it was replanted with sedums and perennials from the greenhouse.

Senior Projects:  Many seniors have chosen projects to add to the NHS Greenhouse Program.  Two examples of this are the wooden painted sign at the corner of the parking lot & greenhouse as well as the neon sign in the front of the new greenhouse.  Current Senior Projects include the development of a demonstration rain garden and beautification of the NHS School Sign at the entrance off of Deborah Street.

Stream restoration work: Through ties with the City of Newberg, the Chehalem Park and Rec District and the Oregon Ecology class at NHS, we invested in Native species for Stream Restoration work. In 2010 we formed a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to help us grow natives for Riparian restoration projects in our area. Class projects and Senior projects have helped clear the forest of blackberries along the stream on NHS campus. They also replanted with native herbs, shrubs and trees. Horticulture classes propagate and grown native plants for stream restoration projects. Biology, Horticulture and Oregon Ecology classes continue to be involved with this project.