At the intersection of education, environmental sustainability and community collaboration, the Green House Venture (GHV) is transforming how young students in urban schools experience science, nutrition and agriculture. Founded in 2015, the St. Louis-based nonprofit is rooted in a vision to empower future generations of plant scientists, starting as early as the fourth grade.
“We need new pathways that empower current and future generations of elementary students to pursue these careers,” said Donald Stump, Vice President and Curriculum Director of the Green House Venture. “We also seek to inspire this future generation of St. Louis plant scientists to help develop a sustainable and affordable food supply in our region.”
That mission began with Saint Louis University research on how to better support urban educators teaching science and nutrition. Today, GHV offers a multidisciplinary hands-on approach. Through a combination of classroom materials, access to a terrace garden and 3.7-acre pollinator habitat alongside Interstate 44, students engage directly with concepts in bioscience, ecology and sustainable agriculture.
The curriculum encourages children not just to learn about science but to become scientists. Students have the ability to design experiments, grow edible plants and analyze data taken from computerized growing chambers which give students an understanding of the impact and importance of microbial soil life. But beyond analytics students gain a sense of connectedness and stewardship for the process. “One boy came into the classroom on a Monday morning after planting the previous week, dashed over to check his seed, and shouted ‘I’m a dad!’” recalled Stump. “The main lesson is that all life on earth is connected in countless, wonderful ways and we need everyone’s help to sustain it.”
With support from the Missouri Department of Transportation, GHV also revitalized roadside land into a thriving Embankment Greenway, where students now observe how native plants impact pollinator populations which are critical contributors to our food systems. The initiative aligns with federal efforts to restore pollinator habits and adds a unique twist – using highway margins as research-rich urban food production areas.
Students from public, charter and parochial schools now work side by side as part of the Urban Education Alliance, forming friendships and cross-school collaborations. Their efforts have real-world impact: in June 2024, harvests of lettuce, kale, chard and more grown by students were donated to Operation Food Search, totaling nearly 200 pounds of fresh produce.
GHV’s next step? A multimillion-dollar Education Center and greenhouse facility in the Shaw neighborhood designed to expand outreach and teacher training. “Through class visits, tours, events, field trips, and online and video outreach, it will serve as a regional center for the sort of teacher support that we have been developing over our first decade,” explained Stump
“The world’s environment is humanity’s future,” Stump emphasized. “Students should learn from an early age to take delight in caring for it.” In every seed planted and pollinator observed, the Green House Venture is cultivating more than crops – it’s nurturing a generation ready to grow a better world. Funded by corporations, individuals, and foundations, the program is always looking to grow. Community members can donate or learn more at greenhousestl.org/donate.
This article appears in April 2025.