Fresh, locally grown food has long been a priority for the RSU 14 nutrition program. But Maine's long, harsh winters typically bring the growing season for leafy vegetables to a halt. Now, thanks to the rising popularity of hydroponic gardening, RSU 14 can keep fresh produce growing year-round with a portable, vertical indoor garden system that has recently made its way to the RSU 14's Katahdin program, giving students the chance to become the district's first "gardening stewards" while learning how to grow vegetables year-round.
This compact hydroponic unit, known as a Flex Farm, is roughly the size of a residential refrigerator and includes a self-contained water system with energy-efficient LED light towers. It is designed by Fork Farms, an agricultural technology company from Wisconsin. The organization's mission is to have more schools, companies and communities "join us at the table to provide fresh food to everyone, everywhere."
Jeanne Reilly, RSU 14's nutrition director, said she was first exposed to this indoor gardening technology a couple of years ago. "I first met the Fork Farms team at a national school nutrition conference, and I really like the ease and portability of the Flex Farm," she said. "I really wanted to purchase one for our department, because it aligns so well with our commitment to local food and with our district farm-to-school focus, but I knew that our school nutrition team didn't really have the time to devote to the growing process."
As a result, Reilly knew they would need a classroom or group to partner with the nutrition department to help grow and maintain the Flex Farm's vegetables. "That's where the Katahdin program came in," Reilly said. "I mentioned the idea to Christine Fredette, the STEM teacher at Katahdin, and she was all in."
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