Honey makes money

By Kameron Mitchell
Photo illustration by Kameron Mitchell

When most people think of Chicago Public Schools, they think of English, math and science classes. They most definitely don't think of a school that runs businesses making honey, growing fruits and vegetables and giving back to the community they are a part of.

Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, also known as CHSAS, is located at 111th Street and Pulaski Road. The school was built in 1985 on the site of the last farm within the Chicago city limits. With 30 acres of land dedicated to the farm, the school grows many types of vegetables. A barn attached to the school houses a variety of farm animals. No doubt that this school is different from other CPS schools in the city.

There is a department devoted to beekeeping, and with the bees come honey. The school has a Food Science department which cooks and processes food. CHSAS honey is used in the preparation of many of these foods and in the production of candles and cosmetics such as lip balm, hand cream and makeup.

"Last year we had 117 gallons [of honey] and this year we had 92 gallons [so far]. In previous years, we have had 70 gallons. Generally, we increase our volume each year because our technique gets better," says Scott Nelson, horticulture teacher.
At the junior and senior grade level, working in an agricultural pathway is a part of the curriculum. Students work with the honey by producing foods, selling and the actual beekeeping. These students are trained to do jobs that most urban students would never learn. The students work hard at what they do, not just for their grade, but because it is their own project.

CHSAS, unlike most schools, serves its community as well as its students. The products made by the students are sold to the local community of Mount Greenwood from a farmstand on campus. Many people buy CHSAS products knowing that it is reliable and that hard work went into making them available to the public.

The school makes a profit throughout the year selling its products. With this money, CHSAS is able to give back to the students who gave so much to them.

"All the funds, derived from the sale of the honey or the use of the honey, for cooking and promotional things come back to the school. For instance, I just sold 70 gallons for $3,500 to Eli's Cheesecake Factory," says Nelson. "The rest of the honey is sold and the money comes back to the honey program and school programs."

Proceeds also are invested back into the farmstand to update the facility and to improve service and increase inventory.

"The farmstand makes about $10,000 to $12,000 a year," says Rick Johnson, agricultural finance teacher. "All of the money that is made by the farmstand, after we pay our expenses, is given back to the students. It is used for student activities to cut the costs, so the kids can do things for less money."

Another piece of the profit is put into the FFA, an organization run by students and often found in agriculture-based high schools. Students of the FFA decide where the money should go to make their school the best it can be.

CHSAS is like no other school in the city of Chicago, and its focus on agricultural science and business practices truly make it one of the most unique.

Rating:
Tags:
Views: 85

Share Twitter Facebook