Clancy Elementary School has spent years discussing the need for a school garden. A garden was certainly an attractive idea. Students could learn about agriculture and food production. School lunches might benefit by having healthy, home-grown vegetables to offer. But, the same questions always seemed to stymie the effort: above ground or in-ground? Where could a garden be located? How will it be cared for in the summer months when school is not in session?
Fifth-grade teacher Megan Morgan may have some answers to those questions. At the Jan. 15 school board meeting, Morgan – who also teaches Family Consumer Sciences (FCS) to junior high students – presented an idea for a portable hydroponic garden system for the school.
Morgan said the system, sold by a company named Flex Farm, can be moved easily, allowing the garden to visit multiple classrooms or be on display for public events. It could also be stored away during the summer months, and brought back into full service when school begins again in the fall.
Hydroponics is a method of gardening that involves no soil. Seeds are started from fortified grow packets, and only water and sunlight are needed for the growing process. Flex Farms notes on its web site that “a hydroponic farm offers hands-on learning opportunities where students can observe, experiment, and actively participate in the growth of plants.”
Flex Farms provides the gardening system as well as learning materials and education curriculum specifically aimed to help teachers and students experience gardening and agriculture. Some of the educational programs that accompany Flex Farms systems include “From Seed To Plant” and “Plants and the Biology of the Life Plant Cycle”.
Morgan’s idea received a positive response from the school board. She and Superintendent Daryl Mikesell said the cost for the system they are looking at was about $5,000. Morgan said she is pursuing grant opportunities which would cover about 20% of the cost, and was hoping the school board might be able to help with the balance.
“Absolutely!” said Board President Sarah Brown said. “We have the money and this seems like a really great idea!” The school is already in the process of discussing how to spend some surplus funds, and the board appeared to agree that this might be a good investment.
Morgan was asked to continue the grant process and report her progress to the board at a future meeting.
