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Grow Towers Add Interest & Opportunity

January 09, 2018

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We have added 3 Tower Gardens to our school thanks to a federal grant.  The towers use an advanced form of hydroponics called aeroponics.  This is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment rather than soil. Aeroponic systems use water, liquid nutrients and a soilless growing medium to quickly and efficiently grow more colorful, tastier, better smelling and incredibly nutritious produce.

The rockwool provides plant roots with oxygen and consistent moisture, encouraging rapid, healthy growth.

A blend of water and pure earth minerals, essential to healthy plant development, provides an all-natural “shortcut” for plants, which typically must source nutrients from decomposing organic matter in soil. The result is greater nutrient uptake and superior growth for a range of plants.

A low-wattage, submersible pump in the reservoir pushes the nutrient solution to the top of the Tower Garden through a small central pipe. The nutrient solution then drips down the inside of the Tower Garden, evenly cascading over the exposed plant roots.

In a few weeks, plants are harvest‑ready!

One tower will be primarily be used by the cooking classes, one by the science department, and one by the agricultural science department.  Each area has specific uses for the tower, ranging from growing ingredients to use in meals, for experimentation, and determining the effect of light and nutrients on plant production.

We also plan to grow unique produce for our students to try during lunch, such as kale.  Be sure to check out the progress of our grow towers when you visit the school!