The cabbages aren't in peak condition, but that's OK with Amelia Schmelzer.

The 15-year-old Northfield School of Arts and Technology student is happy to finally have something in the ground, as she and her band of green-thumbed botanists tilled the earth on a recent school day.

But the cabbages aren't alone. Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts and broccoli followed in the new greenhouse on the property of the school, also known as ARTech.

Three years in the making so far, Schmelzer, along with six other ARTech students, say they are elated to have something like the greenhouse to show for the effort.

"It's good to finally have it up," the sophomore said.

The project, partially funded through the Northfield Union of Youth in Partnership with the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, also received a grant from the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams. The students raised the rest. In all, about $10,000 was spent, Schmelzer said.

Early plans called for a more sophisticated greenhouse, but students say money was hard to come by. They opted for an unheated greenhouse with fewer bells and whistles that still gets the job done.

Aside from materials, money went to pay for a conditional use permit and variance through the city, a key part of the learning process for the project-based school's students. Money also went to pay for a farmer-in-residence to help construct the structure and guide students through the planting season.

Part of the project calls for students to create a Community Supported Agriculture farm, with area residents buying a portion of the produce. The 10 shares — $50 each — for the CSA sold out in less than 12 hours, according to ARTech Director Simon Tyler.

In late October, students broke ground.

Sophomore Arlo Christofaro-Hark said building the greenhouse started by staking the four corners of the structure and pounding a post into the ground every three feet. Hoops were connected to the posts for stability and the plastic covering followed this month, marking the final days of construction. Doors are on either end of the structure for easy access.

Then came the planting.

The students will plant several types of vegetables to see what survives the winter.

Come late winter, farmer-in-residence Andrew Ehrmann said he and students would select several cold-hardy crops from about 30 varieties. The growing season will correspond with the school year, thus the winter planting season.

Schmelzer says the project doesn't end with growing produce. Students and staff will find various ways to use the greenhouse, be it a creative opportunity to write poetry or testing how heightened levels of carbon dioxide affect a tomato.

But back on that November day, during the first day of planting, the students watched in anticipation as the first clumps of soil were raised from the ground as 15-year-old CJ Betcher struck the ground with his shovel. Days earlier, when pounding posts in the ground, they came across plenty of rock.

Though rock was present this time, the students were relieved. 

"There's a worm," Schmelzer said, smiling, and looking around at her peers. "That's a good sign."