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Opportunity to Grow!

School:: Deltona High School
Subject:: Career & Technical Education
Teacher:: Mallory Parker
Students Impacted:: 200
Grade:: 9-12
Date:: September 13, 2023

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Anonymous Family Foundation - $1,000.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 200

The students think that the rise garden is the nicest thing in the classroom. They call the plants their "plant babies". Most of the students had no idea that plants could be grown without soil or sunlight. I was also oblivious that most students had no idea that there are multiple varieties of lettuce, tomatoes, etc. I kept getting questions like "there are other types of lettuce besides iceberg?" and "how many different tomatoes are there?" The students check out the hydroponic garden every day. Students are even coming in during lunch with their friends to check out the garden.

We had a late start getting the unit set up, but the students did everything from setting up the machine, connecting it to wifi to monitor nutrient levels, sprouting the seeds, etc. At the moment we are growing multiple varieties of tomatoes, purple kolabri sprouts, 3 varieties of peppers, different types of basil, parsley, cilantro, celery, different types of eggplant, 3 types of squash, arugula, kale, watercress, strawberries, and more.

The hydroponic system has really sparked interest. A garden club was recently established here at Deltona High and they have asked me for advise and of course to supply them with seeds. Students are asking to harvest some of the greens during lunch, adding them to sandwiches and salads. Recently, my lesson plans included a unit on salads. Some of the plants grown were included in what we cooked!

grant photo

Getting Started!

grant photo

Avocado and Chickpea Salad- The students used kale

Original Grant Overview

Goal

With a Rise hydroponic system students can grow their own fresh and nutritious produce, develop a deeper appreciation for the food they eat and the impact it has on their well-being. As they witness the growth of vibrant greens, herbs, and juicy fruits, the students will be inspired to make healthier choices and develop lifelong habits that promote wellness.

What will be done with my students

Students will have the ability to plant, grow and harvest food that they will cook or bake during their lessons all year. Almost every cooking lab in my classroom involves fruits, vegetables, or herbs!
Although having fresh produce grown in the classroom benefits almost every cooking lesson I have, I will mention a few specific Florida standards/benchmarks having a hydroponic system to grow food relates too.

10.01 Explain common cooking methods (roasting, baking, broiling, sautéing, frying, deep-frying, braising and steaming).

10.02 Explain how taste and aroma combine to give foods their flavors.

10. 05 Identify herbs, spices, oils and vinegars and their appropriate use in preparing food products that exhibit and enhance creativity, taste and appearance.

10.10 Apply basic principles of the chemistry of food preparation to fruits and vegetables.

12.01 List the essential nutrients and their functions.

Growing a variety of herbs, fruits, vegetables will enable students to explore and utilize a range of ingredients when creating a dish. Seeing how food grows and being able to taste food at different stages of growth will expose my future chefs to new flavor profiles and get them thinking about taste, flavor parings, and nutrients in their food. They will learn how to bake, broil, sauté, even deep fry the various produce grown. The students will keep up with the latest culinary trends such as farm to table or in our case farm to classroom when using produce grown in the hydroponic system. It will be exciting to have various herbs and produce at our fingertips to enhance creativity, taste, and appearance of each dish.

Benefits to my students

Using the Rise hydroponic system will allow my class to garden indoors all school year long. The garden will encourage students to expand their palates by trying new fruits, herbs, and vegetables. The more they grow, the more they eat. They will begin to understand where food comes from. It turns out that fresh produce doesn’t just come from the grocery store. Hydroponic gardening is hands on, engaging, and will grow and transform daily. Students can enjoy nutrient-dense foods in the classroom, positively impacting their health. When kids actively participate in growing their own food, they typically want to eat what they grow!

Budget Narrative

The Rise hydroponic system comes with everything needed to grow up to 72 veggies, fruits, leafy greens and more.
Items included:
2 level hydroponic system
starter plant variety pack
net cups
nutrients
Nursery tray