For a group of New Brunswick high school students, a project that started with growing lettuce has sprung into a much bigger conversation about food insecurity and sustainable farming.
For the past couple of months, Harrison Trimble High School students in Moncton have been tending to three vertical farms located throughout the school.
Vertical farming — also known as hydroponic farming — uses water, nutrients, and artificial lighting to help plants develop. Widely considered a solution to food insecurity, the technique does not depend on the weather. Vertical farms can be set up almost anywhere and yield produce year-round.
So far, students have been growing a variety of produce, including romaine, arugula, and a bushy type of lettuce called Salanova that thrives in hydroponic setups. The students hope to soon harvest tomatoes and cilantro.