Vertical Gardening for a Sustainable Future

Project Overview

YENC25-243
Project Type: Youth Educator
Funds awarded in 2025: $6,000.00
Projected End Date: 01/15/2026
Grant Recipient: Kansas Foundation for Ag in the Classroom
Region: North Central
State: Kansas
Project Manager:
Nancy Zenger-Beneda
Email
Kansas Foundation for Ag in the Classroom

Information Products

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Education and Training: youth education

    Abstract:

    Students engage in hands-on learning, using tools to measure and cut wood planks as part of a classroom design and technology project to build a vertical garden.A student-made vertical garden featuring a white pot base and chicken wire frame, likely used for growing climbing plants or displaying small potted plants. "A white, vertical hydroponic tower garden stands in the corner of a bright classroom, full of lush, green lettuce ready for harvest 

    The Tower Garden Giveaway Project by the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (KFAC) was designed to increase access to hands-on, sustainable agriculture learning by providing classroom Tower Gardens, paired with a vertical gardening curriculum and educator support. The project focused on generating awareness of vertical gardening as an instructional tool, building educator interest, and supporting successful classroom implementation.

    To launch the project, KFAC hosted a targeted social media promotion to generate interest and build awareness among educators statewide. This campaign highlighted the benefits of vertical gardening, showcased examples of classroom use, and promoted the availability of KFAC’s vertical gardening curriculum. 

    In addition to online promotion, KFAC actively shared information about the Tower Garden Giveaway Project at various in-person professional learning events. Educators were introduced to the project during a summer workshop hosted at the Kansas Wheat Center, where participants explored the vertical gardening curriculum and discussed classroom applications. The project was also promoted at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, where KFAC staff presented on vertical gardening and sustainable agriculture. 

    Interested Kansas educators submitted applications describing how they planned to use the Tower Garden and curriculum to support student learning. From these applications, three teachers were selected to receive Tower Gardens based on their instructional plans and commitment to implementing sustainable agriculture education.

    Following selection, KFAC provided direct support to the awarded teachers to ensure successful classroom implementation. This included guidance on garden setup and implementing the vertical gardening curriculum.  

    Through coordinated promotion, strategic outreach, thoughtful selection, and sustained teacher support, the Tower Garden Giveaway Project increased educator capacity, expanded access to vertical gardening, and strengthened the integration of sustainable agriculture curriculum for more than 450 Kansas youth.

    Project objectives:

    1. This project will encourage hands-on agricultural education about sustainable practices by promoting the KFAC Vertical Gardening curriculum. 
    2. This project will pilot the Vertical Gardening curriculum.
    3. This project will introduce 450 youth to vertical gardening and agriculture career opportunities.
    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.