Science students at Germantown High School hosted a harvest event on Friday 17 October to showcase fresh greens they grew inside their classroom. The students used an indoor hydroponic farming system to grow several varieties of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, snacking peppers and micro greens that they then served up at school lunch on Friday. The district's food nutrition director, Jill Seefeld, said they built the lab this summer.
"Right now, our lettuce comes out of California. It travels 2,400 miles before it gets to us. For us to be able to harvest it and go 500 feet to the cafeteria is pretty exciting," Seefeld said.
The Flex Farms from Fork Farms system grows the plants using a water-based nutrient solution instead of soil. Students are involved from planting the seeds, to checking the nutrients, to the harvest. The systems can produce up to 25-30 pounds of food every 28 days.
All the food grown at Germantown High School is then served at the district's six school cafeterias. Seefeld said students are excited to try the produce grown at the high school. "The looks on the faces of the students is just, it's incredible. 'They're like, wow, that's grown at our high school!'" Seefeld said.
Read more at WISN