Students are greeted every day by the smell of growing tomatoes and various herbs. In fact, some of the vegetables students have learned to grow, prune and harvest are: cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, chard, lettuce, and collard greens. When asked about how the class would use the crops, Ms. Hrisikos, a Science teacher, was proud to share about student community engagement, noting, “crops are collected and given to an organization that delivers them to a local soup kitchen.” Students can also take crops home, which gives them an opportunity to eat fresh vegetables and learn to make healthier choices when buying and cooking food. “The lab gives (students) the idea of being in a garden and seeing an alternative way of obtaining food other that the supermarket…They are mostly fascinated by the fact that food can grow without soil,” Ms. Hrisikos added.
The hydroponics lab project is expected to grow to include more students, expand the lab facilities, and present technologically advanced practices to students. This effort highlights IS 126Q’s presence as a community hub, creating local impact and improving the health of each student…one green bounty at a time!
