A hydroponic growing system will soon take root at Cass Middle, courtesy of a $5,500 grant from the School Nutrition Foundation. Bartow County School System’s nutrition director, Betsy Roam, shared they are “incredibly excited and honored” to be selected for this Forks Farms Equipment Grant.
“Grant opportunities, like this, allow us to bring innovative educational experiences to students without placing additional financial burden on the district,” she said. “As soon as we learned we were awarded the grant, our team immediately began discussing how the system could be integrated into student learning opportunities, nutrition education activities and farm-to-school programming.
“The grant will provide a Fork Farms Flex Farm hydroponic growing system for Cass Middle School. The funding is specifically designated to purchase the equipment and support implementation of the program. The grant covers the cost of the growing system and provides Cass Middle with the resources needed to begin growing produce indoors year-round.”
The delivery of Cass Middle’s hydroponic growing system is expected this school year. Roam shared staff training and installation of the Flex Farm will take place soon after.
“Our goal is to have the system operational as quickly as possible so students can participate in planting, monitoring growth, harvesting produce, and learning about modern agricultural practices,” Roam said. “The system will be located in the Cass Middle School cafeteria, where it can serve as both an educational tool and a visual connection between agriculture and school meals.
“Placing the Flex Farm in the cafeteria will allow students to observe the growing process throughout the school day and help reinforce the connection between the foods they eat and how those foods are produced. The highly visible location will also support nutrition education, farm-to-school activities, taste tests, and student engagement opportunities.”
According to a School Nutrition Foundation news release, the equipment grant is available to “help school meal programs overcome staffing, budget or operational challenges.”
“The additional funding supports programs working to expand fresh and scratch-made menu options, increase efficiencies and enhance the cafeteria experience to nourish students’ school days,” the release said. “Bartow County is one of four recipients of the grant (estimated $5,500 value each) for a new compact indoor hydroponic growing system, which can yield more than 394 pounds of fresh produce annually.
“… Committed to preparing a high volume of scratch-made meals, the staff of Cass Middle School will utilize the Flex Farm growing system to minimize labor associated with ordering, receiving, and preparation of fresh options. The ability to harvest produce on-site as needed will help improve efficiency, ensure peak freshness, and reduce food waste.”
Roam described the Flex Farm as a vertical hydroponic growing system.
“Unlike traditional gardening, hydroponics grows plants in nutrient-rich water rather than soil,” she said. “The system uses LED lighting, controlled water circulation, and nutrients to create ideal growing conditions regardless of weather or season. Students will have the opportunity to observe the entire growing cycle from seed to harvest while learning about agriculture, plant science, nutrition, sustainability, and food systems.”
The produce will be incorporated into the students’ meals at Cass Middle, when possible.
“By connecting the growing process directly to the cafeteria,” Roam said, “students can gain a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and the important role agriculture plays in providing healthy meals.”
Roam also highlighted why she felt Cass Middle was chosen for the grant. She specifically noted it was due to CMS’ “strong commitment to student wellness, nutrition education and hands-on learning opportunities.”
“The school nutrition team does an excellent job promoting fresh fruits and vegetables and serves a significant number of fresh salads,” she said, “making it an ideal location to connect students with the growing process and the foods they see in the cafeteria every day. While several schools throughout Bartow County already have hydroponic growing systems, this Flex Farm represents an exciting opportunity to expand our district's farm-to-school efforts and provide an additional growing system for students. We are proud of the progress we have made in bringing innovative agriculture into our schools and remain committed to expanding these opportunities districtwide whenever possible.”
She shared that the Flex Farm’s benefits go beyond solely growing produce.
“Students gain exposure to STEM concepts, agricultural careers, sustainability practices, food systems and healthy eating habits while actively participating in the process,” Roam said. “The produce grown in the Flex Farm can be incorporated into school meals, helping students better understand the journey from seed to tray.
“The hands-on nature of the program makes learning more engaging and creates meaningful connections between the classroom, cafeteria, and agriculture. We hope this new system will serve as both an educational resource and an inspiration for continued growth of hydroponic farming opportunities throughout Bartow County Schools.”