Tower Garden Initiative for Underserved Schools

Commodities

• Agronomic: radish (oilseed, daikon, forage)
• Fruits: citrus, melons
• Vegetables: beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, garlic, greens (leafy), greens (lettuces), leeks, okra, onions, peppers, radishes (culinary), sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips
• Miscellaneous: other

Practices

• Crop Production: crop rotation, food product quality/safety, greenhouses, no-till, nutrient cycling, water management
• Education and Training: mentoring, youth education
• Energy: energy conservation/efficiency, renewable energy, solar energy
• Farm Business Management: agritourism, business planning, community-supported agriculture, cooperatives, e-commerce, farm-to-institution, farmers' markets/farm stands, grant making, labor/employment, land access, market study, value added, whole farm planning
• Natural Resources/Environment: indicators, other
• Pest Management: mulching - vegetative, prevention, sanitation, weather monitoring
• Production Systems: aquaponics, hydroponics
• Soil Management: composting, soil analysis
• Sustainable Communities: community development, community services, employment opportunities, food access and security, food hubs, food loss and waste recovery/reduction, food sovereignty, leadership development, local and regional food systems, new business opportunities, partnerships, public participation, public policy, quality of life, social capital, social networks, social psychological indicators, sustainability measures, urban agriculture, urban/rural integration, values-based supply chains

Summary:

In underserved communities, children face significant barriers to accessing fresh, healthy food, leading to poor dietary habits and limited knowledge of sustainable agriculture. The primary research question is: How can we effectively integrate hands-on agricultural education into schools to improve food accessibility and nutrition?

The Tower Garden Initiative will implement vertical farming systems in schools, providing students with practical experiences in growing food using 90% less water than traditional methods. This innovative approach not only addresses food insecurity but also fosters a deeper understanding of sustainable practices.

The significance of this project lies in its potential to educate students about healthy eating and inspire future careers in agriculture. Expected outcomes include improved nutritional knowledge, increased access to fresh produce, and heightened awareness of sustainable food production.

To disseminate findings and practices, we will collaborate with local agricultural stakeholders through workshops, community events, and online platforms, ensuring that the lessons learned and successes of the initiative reach a wider audience.

Research Objectives

Objective 1: Evaluate the educational impact of vertical farming systems on student knowledge of sustainable agriculture.

• Specific: Measure the increase in student knowledge about sustainable agriculture, specifically focusing on water conservation, food production, and environmental sustainability.

• Measurable: Administer pre- and post-project surveys to students to assess agricultural literacy and awareness.

• Achievable: Work with educators to develop the curriculum around the tower garden.

• Realistic: Utilize the expertise of the school's teachers and Troy Albright as the Technical Advisor.

Time-bound: Achieve a measurable increase in student knowledge by the end of the first growing season (six months)

Objective 2: Determine the impact of tower gardens on food security within the school community.

• Specific: Measure the volume of fresh produce grown and assess its contribution to students' meals and household food security.

• Measurable: Track the weight of the produce grown and distributed within the school kitchen and to students' families.

• Achievable: Work with school kitchen staff to integrate fresh produce into the school menu.

• Realistic: Based on existing tower garden systems, a single 12-unit system can grow enough produce per harvest to supplement meals for over 100 students.

• Time-bound: Track produce output for two growing cycles lasting 6-8 weeks.

Objective 3: Develop a replicable model for integrating tower gardens into urban schools.

• • Specific: Create a set of best practices and instructional materials to replicate the project in other schools.

  • Measurable: Based on the research's outcomes, produce a guide that other schools and community organizations can use.

  • Achievable: Collaborate with Project Roots AZ and True Garden to ensure a thorough understanding of the challenges and solutions involved in integrating tower gardens into schools.

  • Realistic: Given the simplicity and scalability of vertical farming technology, this objective is achievable within the project timeline.

  • Time-bound: Complete the guide and disseminate it by the end of the school year.

Educational Objectives

Objective 1: Educate students in underserved schools about sustainable agriculture and vertical farming.

• Specific: Increase student knowledge of sustainable farming methods, water conservation, and local food production.

• Measurable: Administer pre- and post-project assessments to track knowledge gained.

• Achievable: Work with teachers to integrate tower gardening lessons into science curricula.

• Realistic: Provide hands-on experience with tower gardens within the school environment.

• Time-bound: Achieve a measurable increase in student knowledge within the first growing cycle (6-8 weeks).

Objective 2: Train school staff and local community members on implementing and maintaining vertical farming systems.

• Specific: Train 10-15 staff members or community volunteers at each participating school on the operational basics of tower gardening.

• Measurable: Track attendance and completion of training workshops.

• Achievable: Leverage partnerships with Project Roots AZ and True Garden to provide technical support.

• Realistic: Schedule training in conjunction with the tower garden installation at each school.

• Time-bound: Complete all training sessions within the first three months of project implementation.

Objective 3: Raise awareness among local producers and the broader agricultural community about the benefits of vertical farming in urban environments.

• Specific: Share project findings through various outreach channels, including online platforms, workshops, and presentations at agricultural conferences.

• Measurable: Conduct at least four workshops on one field day and publish three online articles or videos throughout the project.

• Achievable: Use existing networks like the Arizona Farm Bureau and Local First AZ to promote events and distribute educational materials.

• Realistic: Capitalize on the project's visibility to reach at least 100 producers or stakeholders.

• Time-bound: Host workshops and field days during the final quarter of the project year (months 9-12)

  • Objective 4: Create educational materials that can be used to replicate the tower garden model in other schools and urban spaces.

• Specific: Develop a guide on implementing tower gardens, including step-by-step instructions, lesson plans, and maintenance tips.

• Measurable: Track the distribution of the guide via download metrics and direct distribution at educational events.

• Achievable: Collaborate with curriculum developers and agricultural experts to create materials suited for school systems and community organizations.

• Realistic: Disseminate materials through school networks, urban agriculture forums, and conferences.

• Time-bound: Complete and distribute the guide within the first six months of the project.