A "vertical kitchen garden on wheels" may sound elaborate, but in practice it is a tower of stacked plastic trays with openings for plants. A reservoir at the base supplies water automatically via a small pump. When the pump activates, it produces an audible drip. "That may take some getting used to in a classroom, but it becomes less noticeable as the plants grow. And during a test, you can simply switch it off," says kitchen garden coach Pam Verwoolde.
Verwoolde supports the Tuintorens ("Garden Towers") programme at the primary schools in the Netherlands receiving these mobile growing towers. The plants require no soil, as seeds are placed in rockwool growing medium. Nutrients are delivered through minerals added to the water — a standard hydroponic growing method.
"You can grow almost any plant," says Verwoolde. "Climbing plants, cucumbers, lettuce, truss tomatoes and microgreens such as cress. Even cabbages. The only plants that don't work are root vegetables such as carrots and radishes."
Four elongated LED grow lights ensure the plants receive sufficient light at the correct spectrum. When a teacher asks whether it is safe for children to look directly at the lights, Verwoolde is reassuring. "At first the light reflects strongly off the white surfaces, but once the plants grow, that effect diminishes."
Read more at AD
