USA - CALIFORNIA: Beverly Hills USD Goes Green With Community Farm Program

Students engage with plant science and sustainable growing practices at the hydroponic container farm on the Hawthorne Campus. (photo courtesy of BHUSD)

Beverly Hills Unified School District is expanding hands-on learning opportunities through a partnership with City Greens Community Farm.

The Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education voted in August to approve the two-year pilot program, reinforcing the district’s commitment to innovation, wellness and environmental responsibility.

At the center of the initiative is the hydroponic container farm located at the Hawthorne Campus, designed as a living classroom where students engage directly with plant science, sustainable growing practices and real-world STEM applications.

The program builds upon work already underway across the district. City Greens currently operates five hydroponic towers at Beverly Hills High School and one tower at Beverly Vista Middle School, providing ongoing classroom-based learning experiences. As part of the pilot, additional towers will expand access to each school site, further integrating hands-on farm education throughout BHUSD.

Recently, Beverly Hills High School Service Learning students and Moreno High School students visited the Hawthorne Campus farm to experience the program firsthand.

“This partnership reflects the innovative spirit of BHUSD,” BHHS Principal Loan Sriruksa said. “Our students are not only learning scientific concepts, they are applying them in meaningful ways that build leadership, awareness and responsibility.”

Through direct participation, students cultivate fresh produce, explore environmental responsibility and connect classroom learning to tangible outcomes. The initiative also supports nutrition education, wellness and community engagement.

For information, visit bhusd.org.