PLANTERSVILLE — Grant money from the Valley Grande City Council has helped one Dallas County High School teacher sow the seeds of education — and cabbage — with students in her environmental science class.

Catherine Johnson received two $500 mini-grants from the city council last fall to be put toward an outdoor gardening project. Shortly after receiving the money, Johnson and students went to work assembling the above-ground boxes and then planting the seeds.

Friday, members of the current environmental science class were harvesting the previous plants before putting down new seeds of their own.

Johnson said both classes have enjoyed the opportunity to learn firsthand about what it takes to successfully grow a bed of vegetables.

“I’m hoping this is something that will help them grow their own vegetables at home,” Johnson said. “And I am really hoping this can be a continuous project here at school.”

Dallas County High School bookkeeper Donna Downs, who is also a member of the Valley Grande City Council, said Johnson’s project was exactly the kind that the grants are designed for.

“If a teacher has more money, then they can do more work with the students,” Downs said. “We are glad to do give out these grants if the projects will benefit the students. That’s what this is all about.”

Dallas County junior Josh Broadhead took some time out of his lunch period to help Johnson plant the first row of sunflower seeds, something he was looking forward to beforehand.

“I’ve grown different things with my dad before, but I had never planted sunflower seeds until today. The closest I’ve come to actually seeing one grow is on ‘Shrek’,” Broadhead said.

Valley Grande’s council provides the $500 grants to teachers from Dallas County High School, Martin Middle School and Valley Grande Elementary who are hoping to work on creative classroom projects with their students.