Our vision is to create a vibrant, student-run business that uniquely meets the developmental needs of adolescents as they acquire hands-on knowledge in earth literacy, gardening techniques, nutrition, entrepreneurism, artistic expression, and meaningful collaboration with each other and the earth. Here are some highlights:
Gardening of All Kinds
The variety of gardening types and sustainable growing methods we will be using are well established. Each of our raised beds, container pots, four-tiered vertical hanging planter boxes, and hydroponic towers will be designated for growing specific produce, herbs, or flowers for specific uses.
Villa’s Unique A.C.E Entrepreneur Building
This building will be used for a variety purposes, including:
Construction of the A.C.E. Entrepreneur Building is now complete. Villa gardening and entrepreneurial classes have begun and are led by instructor Kathreen DeMille. Kathreen brings an extensive background in gardening and art to this position as well as having owned and operated her own small business. Kathreen also has experience as a Master Gardener and holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Environmental Studies.
Currently, the building does not have the kitchen appliances or furnishings necessary to carry out our vision. We are asking Villa families and the community for help with purchasing items through our online store to help our goals come to fruition. Every item listed is a “must have” for our new entrepreneurial and gardening space. These donations will provide Villa’s middle school students with a proper entrepreneurial center where their hopes and dreams for running a school business can become a reality. Please help by purchasing an item from the online store or by making a donation toward a higher-priced item.
Gardening of All Kinds
The variety of gardening types and sustainable growing methods we will be using are well established. Each of our raised beds, container pots, four-tiered vertical hanging planter boxes, and hydroponic towers will be designated for growing specific produce, herbs, or flowers for specific uses.
Villa’s Unique A.C.E Entrepreneur Building
This building will be used for a variety purposes, including:
- The Maker’s Space – This area will be dedicated to the expression of authentic creativity, where students gain the knowledge, skills, and an eye for creating beautiful, artistic, useful, garden-related products/things that will be sold at our Middle School Farmer’s Market and local farmers markets. Not only does this serve as an integral part of the middle school business but also as a way to support the honing and honoring of a variety of different intelligences and talents within our students.
- The Kitchen – Students will make delicious, nutritious recipes from garden produce, learn the basics of good nutrition, experience the joy and satisfaction of creating artistic dishes to serve to others, and participate in the preparation of our “farm-to-table” lunch additions.
- It is our hope that our Middle School Farmers Market will become a monthly, community neighborhood event, where fresh produce, herbs and flowers are sold, along with the many creations produced in our Maker’s Space.
- Selling our bounty to neighboring restaurants known for providing many organic, healthy specialties on their menu is also a main goal.
- As soon as we are able, a weekly contribution of produce to St. Vincent de Paul’s charitable dining rooms will become a tangible expression of social entrepreneurism taught as part of our entrepreneur curriculum.
- Students will be given daily chores to help them learn the responsibility of owning and operating a student-run business, resulting in valorization of work.
- Students will complete a resource tool called a “Harvest Book.” In the Harvest Book, for example, the classroom will have a page devoted to olives. Contact information will be provided for individuals willing to allow us to harvest their olives. Then, once olives are collected, the students will experiment with making olive oil. This is an example of how such learning experiences will promote the benefits of “making your own products.” This type of exploration provides students with opportunities to understand how different food products are made and encourages them to develop improvements in various processes.
- Students will develop new insights to dispel the assumption that since these are modern times, humans must have already thought of everything! Villa’s entrepreneurial curriculum will help students grasp that they can play a vital role in not only improving what is, but creating what is yet to be.
- Students will have opportunities to become accepting of failure. Creativity is defined as the ability to come up with original ideas that have value. If students are not prepared to be wrong, they may never come up with anything original! If nurtured in the right way, they will not be afraid to try unfamiliar things or make a mistake.
Construction of the A.C.E. Entrepreneur Building is now complete. Villa gardening and entrepreneurial classes have begun and are led by instructor Kathreen DeMille. Kathreen brings an extensive background in gardening and art to this position as well as having owned and operated her own small business. Kathreen also has experience as a Master Gardener and holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Environmental Studies.
Currently, the building does not have the kitchen appliances or furnishings necessary to carry out our vision. We are asking Villa families and the community for help with purchasing items through our online store to help our goals come to fruition. Every item listed is a “must have” for our new entrepreneurial and gardening space. These donations will provide Villa’s middle school students with a proper entrepreneurial center where their hopes and dreams for running a school business can become a reality. Please help by purchasing an item from the online store or by making a donation toward a higher-priced item.