Buckeye Local students grow fresh produce with new hydroponics system

Buckeye Local Jr./Sr. High School is taking the concept of “farm to table” a step further by launching a sustainable venture to grow fresh produce for school use through a new hydroponics system.

The Buckeye Local High School FFA and the junior high building are now housing three commercial-grade hydroponics towers, purchased in November through a $35,000 Grow Ohio Grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The equipment, purchased from Fork Farms of Wisconsin, is being used to grow herbs, fruits and vegetables for the school cafeteria, Luke Fabry’s culinary classes and potential fundraising sales.

Agriculture education teacher and FFA adviser Cameron Best worked with Superintendent Coy Sudvary, High School Principal Luke Parsons, Buckeye Local Junior High School Principal Andy Long, and VAZA Consulting representatives Dustin Pyles and Marcy Raymond on the grant application. Best said the Panther Produce: Growing Futures Hydroponics Lab project is designed to build agricultural career awareness and food systems knowledge for students in grades six through 12.

The towers are already producing butterhead lettuce and basil, which have been supplied to the school kitchen and foods classes.

“There are 288 plant sites on each unit, and it can grow 900 plants in about 25 days,” Best said. “They mature very quickly.”

One tower is housed in the junior high wing but is expected to be relocated to the lobby for public viewing. A second tower is in Best’s classroom on the second floor of the high school, and a third will be placed in junior high science teacher Julianne Kuchan’s classroom.

Before Christmas break, students harvested about 144 heads of lettuce from the system.

Hydroponics is a soilless growing method in which seeds are planted in rockwool and placed into the towers. The systems use a 25-gallon water reservoir and liquid nutrients to support plant growth. Students monitor the water’s pH levels and maintain the equipment, while artificial lighting runs on a timer to provide 18 hours of illumination per day.

“They do regular pH tests and measure particles in the water,” Best said. “The students are fully responsible for the project.”

Best said one student’s FFA project involves monitoring the system, while others check for leaks, lighting issues and plant progress. The grant also covers curriculum resources for junior and senior high classes, professional development and field trips.

In addition, Best plans to use the school’s newly on-site greenhouse to grow more vegetables, including tomatoes and peppers, as well as flowers for Mother’s Day sales to support the FFA. Work on the greenhouse was expected to begin by the end of the holiday break.