NAHANT — The Johnson Elementary is one step closer to its fully functional farmer’s market, which will operate out of the school’s new greenhouse.
Superintendent of Schools Rob Liebow was eager to present the new addition to the school’s mission of creating this self-sustaining cycle of produce and generating the school’s own farmer’s market, which the school would then use to supply food to people in need throughout the area.
Acquiring the van is the latest step in the school’s journey, riding on the coattails of the school’s anonymous donation of $80,000 to construct a state-of-the-art greenhouse.
Liebow had the van parked right out front of the school building Wednesday morning, where he had the fifth-grade class come outside to inspect the new school vehicle. Aside from the goal of using the van to transport students with their home-grown goods, Liebow said the van will also be used to take students on various trips.
“It teaches the kids all about sustainable practices,” Liebow said. “But also, to teach them about small business… With the farmer’s market, they’ll give produce to the cafeteria. With the farmer’s market, they can price the produce and then sell it to people throughout the community who want fresh tomatoes and things like that.”
He emphasized the way students can learn life experiences through this new endeavor. “They’ll be running their own small business, and the profit goes into buying more seeds, more soil, so they learn income and costs at an early age,” he said.
“The biggest part, at least for me, is about finding an organization that helps the needy or helps those that have fallen on bad times,” Liebow explained. “So, the hope is that at an early age, the students learn to give back to people… For the people that didn’t have a meal or can’t buy food.”
The van also features the school’s new mascot, the Blue Lobster, which was designed by fifth-grader Mary DeLisio.
Fifth-grade teacher Tessa Dearing spoke on the impact she thinks the van and the farmer’s market will have on students.
“We’re just super excited to be able to have the opportunity to be able to take the students’ places, because it’s not always easy to get the kids around,” Dearing said. “This has really opened a lot of doors for them.”
