Cleveland ISD is taking an innovative approach to combining education, sustainability, and healthy eating through the pilot of a Hydroponic Flex Farm Garden. This program offers students a hands-on learning experience in science and nutrition while also providing fresh, locally grown produce for school meals.
The pilot garden, located indoors, features a soilless, vertical growing system capable of cultivating a wide variety of vegetables and herbs year-round. Recently, the district's Child Nutrition Department harvested 18.75 pounds of Green Star and Romaine lettuce, along with several basil plants. The fresh produce was served to Cleveland Middle School and Cleveland High School students, highlighting the immediate benefits of the program.
In addition to supplying healthy food, the hydroponic garden serves as a learning tool. Students gain practical knowledge in botany, agriculture, and environmental science, helping to make abstract concepts like sustainability and nutrition tangible and relevant.
By connecting students to the food they eat and teaching them about healthy choices, the program fosters curiosity and engagement while encouraging better lifelong habits. Cleveland ISD is proud to pilot this initiative as part of its commitment to enriching education and promoting student well-being. If successful, the district plans to expand the program to benefit more schools and students.
The Hydroponic Flex Farm Garden demonstrates that innovation in education can extend beyond textbooks and traditional lessons. It shows that by growing food, students can also grow curiosity, knowledge, and connections—key ingredients for a thriving future.