USA - WISCONSIN: Germantown High School Students Offer Homegrown Vegetables to School's Cafeteria Menu
Oct. 21, 2025
Amanda Estes, 17, harvests green star lettuce on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, grown at Germantown High School's Flex Farm, an indoor mobile hydroponic farm from Fork Farms in Germantown, Wisconsin. Estes, a vegetarian, said she has learned a lot about plants' life cycles while participating in this class. "We can feed the entire cafeteria with the lettuce we produce here. I feel like I'm making a difference in our community. It's an amazing thing that I am proud to be a part of," she said.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Emma Olszewski, center, gives fresh grown greens to classmate Hannah Leinbeck, right, both 16, while getting lunch at Germantown High School.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Lydia Taraboi, 16, left, works with environmental science teacher, Mark McClellan while preparing to plant vegetables at Germantown High School's Flex Farm.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Radish is seen in Germantown High School's Flex Farm on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 in Germantown, Wisconsin. The Flex Farm is an indoor mobile hydroponic farm. Students participating in the class are growing enough vegetables for the school's cafeteria food program. This technology also allows schools to stretch meal budgets and introduce students to healthier foods.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Students work in Germantown High School'sFlex Farm. The indoor mobile hydroponic farm allows schools to stretch meal budgets and introduce students to healthier foods.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Zoey Seltrecht, 17, cuts recently harvested micro greens while participating in Germantown High School's Flex Farm. "The lettuce that we used to get came from miles away and now this is saving lots of energy," she said.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Zoey Seltrecht, 17, cuts recently harvested micro greens while participating in Germantown High School's Flex Farm. "The lettuce that we used to get came from miles away and now this is saving lots of energy," she said. The vegetables will be part of the school's salad bar.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Hannah Leinbeck,16, holds cucumber plant that will continue to grow in Germantown High School's Flex Farm. Flex Farm is an indoor mobile hydroponic farm.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Germantown High School students proudly show off salads with greens produced in the school's Flex Farm class, an indoor mobile hydroponic farm.
Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel