HARRIS, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Tuesday, Bark River-Harris High School students harvested their own hydroponic lettuce.
Bark River-Harris was one of twelve schools in the Upper Peninsula to receive a Superior Health Foundation grant for a hydroponic Flex Farm, which contains a water system and 288 plant spaces.
“We received the entire grow station and all of the supplies necessary, including seeds, in October,” said science teacher Allen Botwright. “This is our first growth cycle that we’ve ever experienced. It’s a real-world example that is right in front of them that they get to manipulate the various parameters, in terms of nutrients, pH, water levels. It was a learning experience for all of us.”
After just over a month of growing, students were able to harvest their very own produce. They then applied that hands-on work to their environmental science studies.
“We are collecting the data for our lettuce plants, just weighing out, getting the average,” explained sophomore Maverick Krachinski.
“We’re taking the roots off the plants and we’re counting how many leaves on them, and then the total number of plants that we have altogether,” said senior Aiyanna Alexander.
The Flex Farm was provided by Fork Farms. Associate Vice President of Partnership Development Dr. Kim Kolasa says according to the Michigan Public Health Institute, the U.P. is a food desert. Kolasa says having tools like the Flex Farm in schools increases food security while providing students with future opportunities.
“Students, in engaging in indoor agriculture, are really learning about where their food comes from,” said Dr. Kolasa. “They’re also learning about an up-and-coming industry that has a very high growth trajectory. There is a high level of job opportunity and demand for a highly skilled and trained workforce that understand how to grow food using the hydroponics technology.”
At the end of class, students walked away with new knowledge they can use in their own lives and in their communities.
“Plants can grow anywhere I guess,” Alexander said. “I didn’t think we’d be growing plants in December, but I guess we are now!”
“We’ve learned that we’re able to grow lettuce without the need of soil and able to reuse the water and minerals within it,” said Krachinski. “It’s mostly just knowing how to grow our own food and able to grow it year round.”
Click here for more information on Fork Farms and the hydroponic Flex Farm.
