Growing Curiosity and Community at Crestone Charter School

On a bright day in Crestone, students step into a geodesic dome filled with the smell of soil, herbs, and something always growing. The school’s new greenhouse has quickly become one of the most loved places on campus, where learning feels alive and a little bit magical.

What began as a vision to bring greenhouse growing back to Crestone Charter School has turned into a space that connects students to food, science, and each other year-round. In a place where harsh weather can make outdoor gardening tough, the dome gives students the chance to plant, tend, and harvest no matter the season.

A Space Where Learning Feels Real

Inside the greenhouse, students continually discover how things work. They learn how seeds sprout, how soil stays healthy, and how water, fish, and plants all depend on one another. They watch plants change week-by-week, test pond water, and see firsthand what it takes to keep a whole ecosystem in balance.

The dome also doubles as an art studio. Students have painted murals of the plants and animals that live inside, made prints using flowers and leaves, and planted seeds in clay pots they sculpted themselves. Even the structure of the greenhouse becomes part of the lesson as students explore the shapes and geometry that hold it all together.

From Garden Beds to the Table

Some of the best moments happen when it’s time to harvest. Students pick kale, tomatoes, herbs, carrots, and beets, then head inside to prepare and eat what they’ve grown. They slice, mix, and taste together, turning fresh produce into snacks and meals they actually want to eat.

Middle-schoolers took it a step further by making and canning their own spaghetti sauce from tomatoes and herbs grown in the dome. Peeling skins, chopping herbs, and sealing jars turned into a celebration of everything they had grown together.

“If we were talking in person, you would hear the joy in my voice and see the sparkle in my eye about what we’ve accomplished,” said Rachel Kellum, Crestone’s Greenhouse and Art Teacher. “The kids’ enthusiasm for this programming is real. Being able to bring together my love of greenhouse gardening with my background in visual and language arts to create an experiential classroom inside the dome has been incredibly rewarding.”

She’s also noticed a shift at lunchtime. Students are far more open to eating vegetables when they’ve grown them themselves and understand where they come from.

Rooted in Crestone’s Community

The greenhouse reflects what makes Crestone special. Older students naturally help younger ones plant, harvest, and cook. The dome runs on solar energy, tying into the community’s deep commitment to sustainability and living in balance with the environment.

Students are also beginning to see how this kind of learning connects to life beyond school. High schoolers recently visited local farms, food producers, and greenhouses across the San Luis Valley, exploring what careers in agriculture and sustainability can look like close to home.

Rachel also credits the greenhouse itself for helping bring the experience to life. “Growing Spaces Greenhouses’ four-season design is absolutely magical,” she said. “I never get tired of walking into it in the middle of winter and breathing in all the lush life thriving inside.”

What started as a greenhouse has become something much bigger: a place where curiosity grows, confidence takes root, and students learn what it means to care for something together. At Crestone Charter School, every seed planted is another opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive.