Growing for Future Generations

The Idea

Classrooms across Arizona have been using vertical, aeroponic gardens to grow food. This project allows your school to explore food growing in the classroom, educating kids on where food comes from and learning about the nutritional and environmental impacts of different food types. The gardens come equipped with lights for optional indoor growing, a dolly so that it can be transported easily, and a cage to support plant growth. Water is housed in the base of the garden and is distributed to the plants through a pump mechanism that runs water to the top of the garden. When the water trickles down from the top of the garden it nourishes roots with mineral inputs. Applying water directly to the roots helps to conserve water and support accelerated plant growth.

The versatility of the garden is what makes it ideal for a classroom setting. The garden can grow indoors or outdoors, it can be moved from place to place, and can grow most fruits, vegetables, and herbs, excluding root crops. All plants grow in a net pot that can be easily removed from the garden frame for educational purposes, or to replace it with a new plant. All the garden requires is water and nutrient inputs every 2-4 weeks, depending on what is being grown and where.

You'll get a step-by-step guide on how to start a food growing project in your school, support from an experienced team at the Arizona Sustainability Alliance and funding to purchase your vertical school garden, seeds and equipment you need to maintain your garden on an ongoing basis. Get Started

The Idea

DawnMarie Memere-p kopanetse Growing for Future Generations a Sow it Forward sehlopha 10 months fetileng

Jaclyn McCormick-Arigi

almost 5 years fetileng

After a long and hot summer vacation, the kids cooking and gardening classes are beginning again after school at the El Rancho Del Sol community. The first garden class had a small turn out (as it was our first one this year) but the kids that were able to participate, absolutely LOVED the experience. They were excited to learn the mechanisms involved with the tower garden and Tearsa did an amazing job going over all the details and teachings. The tower garden has has a positive, motivating impact on the kids, as well as community members that visit the kitchen. The space the tower garden resides, is also the location of the bi-weekly food pantry for the residents. Once the garden begins producing, we are hopeful that any produce not utilized for the cooking class, can be donated to the food pantry! This will increase the communities access to fresh, nutritious produce and hopeful inspire the residents to learn more about growing their own food.

Jaclyn McCormick-Arigi

about 5 years fetileng

We are so excited to get the Sow-it-Forward Project started! Local First Arizona is dedicated to empowering not only local businesses, but communities as well. The funding received will go directly towards purchasing the tower garden growing set, LED lighting kit, tower garden dolly and the tomato cage. Any remaining funding will be used to purchase ongoing items such as seeds, rockwool, pH kit and mineral blend.

The tower garden will positively impact the youth in a low-income area in Mesa, Arizona. We will utilize the garden during weekly youth cooking and gardening classes, as well as be available to residents who visit the the commercial sized kitchen located at the El Rancho Del Sol property. The tower garden will give the kids access to nutritional food and allow them to learn more about our food system. The kids have been learning different techniques to urban gardening, such as raised garden beds and aquaponics (a small fish tank on the counter); the tower garden will allow them to continue to learn about the dedication that goes into growing food.

Kimber Lanning kopanetse Growing for Future Generations a Sow it Forward sehlopha about 5 years fetileng

Melissa Wright kopanetse Growing for Future Generations a Sow it Forward sehlopha about 5 years fetileng

Emily Bell kopanetse Growing for Future Generations a Sow it Forward sehlopha about 5 years fetileng

Kate Radosevic kopanetse Growing for Future Generations a Sow it Forward sehlopha about 5 years fetileng

Gabe Gardner kopanetse Growing for Future Generations a Sow it Forward sehlopha about 5 years fetileng

Jaclyn McCormick-Arigi kopanetse Growing for Future Generations a Sow it Forward sehlopha about 5 years fetileng

Growing for Future Generations

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Jaclyn McCormick-Arigi

Sehlopha & Litho (7)