THORNDIKE -- Janet Caldwell believes that, by the time the new Mount View School complex is built next summer, a four-season greenhouse also will be a significant feature of the new campus.

Caldwell, a faculty advisor for Mount View High's first-in-the-state PeaceJam chapter, is not alone. School Administrative District 3 is on board with the concept of a greenhouse that, in cooperation with local farmers, might help feed the district. So, too, is the Brooks-based Newforest Institute, which is making land available for the PeaceJam students to hone their organic gardening skills.

"We'll grow vegetables at first," said Caldwell, an English teacher. "Eventually, fruit trees. We're talking sustainable agriculture so that the school does not have to reach out of the community for food. We're looking to get the community farmers involved in this."

Newforest, located on 300 acres of forest, fields and gardens in the SAD 3 town of Brooks, will help Mount View PeaceJam write a grant to get the greenhouse built. Caldwell did not have numbers handy on the size and cost of the facility Tuesday, but she is not short on specifics for the program.

"The alternative-education program will run the greenhouse," she said. "We have 25 or 30 PeaceJam members here, and that's enough for the pilot program. The whole school should be involved."

Dawn Engle, PeaceJam co-founder, said from the group's Colorado headquarters that the Mount View effort is both inspiring and encouraging. Engle and PeaceJam have been nominated for a Nobel Peace Price, which will be announced on Friday.

"We're very, very proud of the young people from Maine," Engle said. "Food security is one of the key issues, and the other is the greening of our planet. These young people are amazing. They're going to be the next great generation."

Mount View senior Erin Simoneau of Brooks and Jillian McDonald, a junior from Montville, are among the PeaceJam members who have been harvesting carrots and onions during the group's early years. Simoneau and McDonald were pleased last autumn, when schoolmates enjoyed the vegetables they grew and picked.

"We do want to help out in the world," Simoneau said. "We'd really like to help feed the district."

McDonald, who transferred to Mount View a year ago from Orono, said she enjoys learning about sustainable agriculture.

"To make a difference, you don't have to be high up and powerful," she said. "Everything that we can do to help is good."

Caldwell said that SAD 3 Superintendent Joe Mattos is open to the greenhouse/food concept -- as long as it's curriculum-based. The new Mount View will entail an environmental focus, she said.

"As this idea progresses, content areas will begin to feed into the classes," Caldwell said. "This is student-based learning. This is hands-on learning."

Cathy Roberts, a parent from Liberty, is the other PeaceJam advisor at Mount View. Teacher Jack Kiertz, a member of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), provided land for the first two years.

"These kids were able to see their food eaten by their peers," Caldwell said. "Some of it went to local food pantries, and they were thankful."

Newforest has made 90 acres of land-management area available to Mount View for agriculture, arts, recreation and wildlife. Roberts, Caldwell and Newforest members met a week ago to develop a timeline for the greenhouse, which will feature a large garden with an attached classroom.

Simoneau, McDonald and the other PeaceJam members at Mount View stand at the ready.

"These kids will be the guinea pigs," Caldwell said. "PeaceJam will go to Newforest to begin learning the ways of land management on this 90 acres. They will take their knowledge back to the school district and from there the curriculum committee can use that knowledge."

Larry Grard -- 861-9239

lgrard@centralmaine.com