USA - CONNECTICUT: Students Launch Innovative Indoor Mushroom Farm: Harvest Scholars Company Brings Sustainable Science to Life
In a repurposed 40-ft. shipping container, High School in Community students, known as Harvest Scholars Company, created a mushroom farm.
NEW HAVEN, CT — In a first-of-its-kind project for New Haven schools, entrepreneurial students transformed a repurposed shipping container into a fully-operational, climate-controlled indoor mushroom farm. They created a "living laboratory where science, technology, and entrepreneurship meet."
The student-run enterprise at High School in the Community, known as Harvest Scholars Company, is redefining what it means to "learn by doing," the district noted in a news release.
Inside the 40-foot container, students monitor temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels using smart sensors and automated systems to create the ideal environment for growing gourmet mushrooms. From designing the grow space and preparing substrate to harvesting and packaging, students are managing the entire production process—combining biology, environmental science, and business skills in a real-world context.
Harvest Scholars Company-grown mushrooms are for sale, but theyr are also a "bridge to community connection."
According to the school district, students plan to share harvests with residents, inviting them to taste, cook with, and provide feedback on the flavor and texture of the mushrooms. Community members are encouraged to share their recipes and cultural food traditions, helping students learn how science, food, and culture intersect.
And, Harvest Scholars Company looks to partner with local restaurants, chefs, and food entrepreneurs "interested in supporting the program’s sustainability goals and incorporating locally grown mushrooms into their menus."
These partnerships will help sustain the program while connecting education with New Haven’s vibrant local food scene, the district noted.
"Harvest Scholars Company represents a new vision for science education—one that is hands-on, community-focused, and forward-thinking," a news release reads. "Through this innovative model, students are learning that the future of food, sustainability, and business can start right inside a classroom—or even a shipping container."
Harvest Scholars Company-grown mushroom. NHPS
About Harvest Scholars Company
Harvest Scholars Company is a student-led sustainable agriculture initiative within New Haven Public Schools. Its mission is to connect scientific learning to community action by cultivating gourmet mushrooms using environmentally responsible methods. HSC empowers students to apply science, engineering, and business principles while promoting food justice, sustainability, and local collaboration.