What started as an idea from two students at
Renaissance Public School Academy has transformed into a comprehensive entrepreneurial venture with a clever name: Roots ‘n Roost.
“Roots” represents their school’s on-site hoop house, where classes go out and tend to their growing produce—from planting to labeling seedlings, harvesting, and even decorating it with painted rock artwork.
The “Roost” represents chickens the students have nurtured—they’ve hatched, raised, and are managing their hens’ egg production during the school days, on nights and weekends, and throughout the summer when class isn’t in session.
Together, these students have formed Roots ‘n Roost, where they’re selling the eggs, produce, and retail items such as shirts, totes, and stickers—complete with graphics even designed by one of the students—and are taking the proceeds they earn and reinvesting it all into their projects.
“It started with us saying ‘yes’ to a student project; we had two girls that knew a lot about chickens, and asked if we could hatch chickens, and then asked if we could keep them,” explains Renaissance middle school teacher Blake Buzard of the endeavor’s beginnings. “We just said ‘yes’ to both.”
“Those two girls who had the chicken knowledge then ran a club when they were the teachers and taught the next wave of kids—not just how to care for them, but all about chickens,” he explains, noting chicken biology, health, recognizing potential diseases and parasites, practical care and responsibilities, and how to handle chickens at different stages are all part of their learning curriculum.
The students cleverly call their club the Chicken Tenders.
“And then each year, now that gets handed down. So this year, Gracie Flores and some help from Brya Hanus have taught the Chicken Tender class,” Buzard shares. “So it's not just a group that goes out and takes care of the chickens, but they're actually teaching the next wave like their teachers.”
The Chicken Tender club’s unique mentorship model has nine dedicated students, with three of them who have been around
since the beginning.
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Photo Credit Courtney Jerome / Epicenter Mt. PleasantFive members of Renaissance’s Chicken Tenders club pose outside one of their school’s chicken coops.
The idea for Roots ‘n Roost began just after the students’ spring break only months ago, when Buzard was brainstorming ideas to name their hoop house, and things evolved when classroom discussions continued.
“Our math teacher, Mr. B., said he had come up with name ideas for the hoop house, because he wanted branding for it and maybe merch,” shares Anara Tollenaera, who just finished eighth grade at Renaissance. “And that's kind of where the idea started.”
As they brainstormed, they shifted from just creating a name to developing a full business concept, ultimately deciding to participate in the local farmers’ market.
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Photo Credit Courtney Jerome / Epicenter Mt. PleasantStudents in Renaissance’s Maker Space where they hand-print their merchandise. Pictured left to right: Brooklyn Wilson, Zoe Pastotnik, Anara Tollenaera, and Zoey Kregel.
“After we had the idea for Roots ‘n Roost, we all went into our next class and started sketching out different sticker designs,” shares student Zoe Pastotnik, who just completed eighth grade at Renaissance. “Then that night I started designing stickers and I came the next day with two designed stickers. They all got really excited about the idea. And then it was a lot of late nights working on stickers and designs!”
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Photo Credit Courtney Jerome / Epicenter Mt. PleasantSeveral of the sticker and tee-shirt designs created by student Zoe Pastotnik.
The group worked together for countless hours both in class and after-hours to prepare for their first Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market appearance on May 29, armed with tee shirts, stickers, crocheted chickens, and chapsticks.
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Photos Courtesy of Rachel Brandeberry / RenaissanceBlake Buzard, Rachel Brandeberry, and Renaissance students represent Roots ‘n Roost at their first Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
The Roots ‘n Roost students were ecstatic that they not only sold out of their eggs, peas, and crocheted chickens, but they walked away with a pre-order list for their other retail items as well.
Even better yet, they left their first market with several invitations from other area businesses who were vendors at the market alongside them. They offered tips, cross promotion, and mentorship after being impressed by their efforts.
“It was a great way to see the community come together,” recalls Rachel Brandeberry, community connections coordinator at Renaissance Public School Academy.
One of these business owners who offered to help was Life Unplugged’s
Dylan Banagis.
“He came to the market and visited us,” shared Anara Tollenaera, a recent eighth grade graduate from Renaissance. “We went to
Life Unplugged and visited with Dylan. He taught us how to heat press and where to order supplies. He’s been very helpful in teaching us how to run a business.”
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Photos Courtesy of Rachel Brandeberry / RenaissanceDylan Banagis, owner of Life Unplugged, with the Roots ‘n Roost students at the Mt. Pleasant Farmers' Market on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
As the school year wrapped up, students continued to utilize their classroom math time and independent work time to apply real-life business applications, including building a website.
On June 19, they attended their second Mt. Pleasant Farmers’ Market and made over $500 in sales thanks to the inclusion of in-season fresh produce.
What’s next for the crew?
The students are continuing to take ownership and develop their business skills this summer, hoping to add additional pop-up shops throughout the community—including being part of Market for the Arts in August. For this event, Banagis from Life Unplugged has offered them to set up in front of his store downtown, with a possible opportunity to make shirts on demand for customers.
Other family friendly events across the community are also being considered by the students, such as the Cabin’s family trivia night on July 8, downtown’s scavenger hunt July 18, and to potentially be at Island Park July 22 for a pancakes meal with Chris Cakes, the pancake flipper. Official announcements will be made on their
Facebook page.
Today they’ll launch their newest design on their
Facebook page: "Red, White, and Bloom." (People can order directly by emailing rootsandroost@renaissancepsa.com and pick up their orders at the school next week.)
And what’s after that? With this group’s creativity and drive, anything they dream up might just take root.