Fifty-five schools across North Dakota are receiving grants from the state's Department of Agriculture (NDDA) to create hydroponic garden systems. The NDDA offered its Farm to School hydroponics garden grant in order to help students learn about local food and how it's grown. Schools receiving this grant will also set up a hydroponic garden, which they can use to teach children about growing food.
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. Plants are instead anchored in a container and fed through a nutrient-rich water solution. The water delivers nutrients directly to the roots, allowing for faster growth and year-round indoor gardening.
The hydroponic systems are designed to be used repeatedly, allowing schools to integrate hydroponics into their curriculum in the long-term. The funding for the program comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program, which supports agriculture education and the growth of local food in school settings.
"Produce grown through these gardens supports nutrition education and increases student exposure to local foods," Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said in a press release. "The hydroponic gardens will impact nearly 5,000 K-12 students across the state with hands-on educational experiences, helping students build skills in plant science, nutrition and food systems."
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