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Agriculture
        Page 8                                                                                                 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com


                                Eagle Ridge Pilots Hydroponic Garden System,

                                Connecting Students to the Food They Eat


        Building agricultural literacy in students while providing fresh greens for meals

                                                                                has never used a hydroponics system either,   or vegetables next year but wants to ensure
                                                                                but she was excited to use one because her   that students have a voice in the planning.
                                                                                mom has been interested in getting one for   “Kids have really enjoyed the opportu-
                                                                                their family.                      nity to be hands-on with all aspects of this
                                                                                   “I really enjoyed learning how to build   garden – germination, planting, testing the
                                                                                the hydroponics system and also            soil, harvesting and, of course,
                                                                                working with my friends and                   tasting the fruits of their
                                                                                classmates to grow lettuce                      labor!” said Nicklin. “The
                                                                                and basil,” said Heidi. “I                        hydroponics project has
                                                                                think hydroponics is                               transformed our class-
                                                                                a great alternative to                              room  into  a  living
                                                                                growing foods out-                                  laboratory,  where
                                                                                doors.”                                              hands-on experience
                                                                                   By the end of                                     meets    scientific
                                                                                the school year, it’s                                inquiry.  Students
                                                                                expected that each                                  have gained valuable
                                                                                sixth-grade  student                                skills such as team-
                                                                                will participate in the                            work, problem-solving
                                                                                growing process in some                           and critical thinking.
                                                                                way, but all ERMS students                      This hands-on approach
                                                                                will have had the opportunity                has not only reinforced sci-
                                                                                to observe the garden and taste the       entific concepts but has ignited
                                                                                food that is grown.                students’ passion for learning.”
        Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District   and Nutrition Services Director Julie Kro-  “The hydroponics garden system has   At the middle school level, Pathways
        191                                 nabetter. “We are excited to partner with the   been a great addition to Eagle Ridge,” said   learning is designed to foster exploration
            Thanks to a collaboration between   school and with sixth-grade science teacher   ERMS Principal Dave Helke. “There are so   and nurture creativity as students consider
        District 191 Food and Nutrition Services   Liza Nicklin, who has helped get the system   many careers in the food industry, so we   their future.  We’re serious about building
        and Eagle Ridge  Middle  School (ERMS)   up and running. Food grown at ERMS may   are fortunate to have this opportunity for   inclusive spaces because it gives students
        staff, students at the school have the excit-  supplement or possibly replace some of our   exploration.  Not  only  have  students  been   the best chance to continue healthy self-dis-
        ing opportunity to harvest greens through   current food purchases. If successful and   excited to learn the science behind growing   covery as they bridge into our high school
        hydroponic technology.              future school or community partners are   their own food, but they have been eager to   experience.
            Hydroponics is the technique of   identified, we hope to add more units.”     eat what they’ve harvested!”  Learn more about District 191 Path-
        growing  plants  using  a  water-based  nutri-                             Teacher Liza Nicklin says that, while   ways at www.isd191.org/pathways.
        ent solution rather than soil. Hydroponic   Fueling Exploration Through  there has been a steep learning curve to
        systems are used mostly by small farmers,  Hands-On Learning            hydroponics, the plan this year is to perfect
        hobbyists and commercial enterprises, but                               the growing process with students. Students
        they are becoming increasingly popular   The hydroponics lesson and curricu-  and staff alike are already learning what’s   www.isd191.org
        among schools and nonprofits as a way to   lum  is  currently  a  stand  apart  curriculum   working and what’s not. Nicklin looks
        grow their own food.                each day during the students’ FLEX time,   forward to growing new types of fruits and/
            After determining a  school  with   when they rotate through math and reading
        ample kitchen space and identifying staff   support and other learning opportunities.
        to facilitate the growing process, One91   At every stage, from the initial set-up
        Food and Nutrition Services Director Julie   of the system to the first harvest, students
        Kronabetter partnered with a hydroponics   were involved in the growing process.
        manufacturer to bring a vertical hydropon-  While there were some students who had
        ics system to ERMS. It’s the first school in   a basic understanding of gardening, others
        District 191 to install an indoor garden to   had no experience at all.
        harvest food for school meals and snacks.   “I’ve planted vegetables in a garden
            The indoor garden is also an impact-  with the help of my grandmother, but I’ve
        ful way for students to learn how to grow   never used a system like this before,”
        fresh food. Students learn about the science   said Lillian  Torres Garzon, sixth grader.
        behind hydroponics, fostering a deeper   I thought it was pretty cool to have this
        understanding of STEM, agricultural tech-  machine where we could plant vegetables
        nologies and sustainability practices. Not   indoors.
        only does the garden empower students to   “I really enjoyed watching the plants
        grow their own leafy greens, herbs and veg-  grow. Seeing that we actually made that
        etables for their school, but it also provides   happen was pretty exciting,” Lillian added.
        a cost-effective way to produce fresh food   Sixth-grader Heidi Guerrero Hernan-
        on site for the school.             dez has had a lot of experience gardening
            “I’m thrilled to be a part of this project   with her family members — growing a
        and introducing students and staff to hydro-  variety of fruits and vegetables such as
        ponic gardening,” said District 191 Food   cucumber, strawberries and  squash.  She
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