Somerset County VoTech Grows Hydroponic Farm to School Program

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Students at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School have spent the past six months building a Farm to School program on campus, using hydroponic gardens to connect agriculture, culinary arts and science classes.

The initiative was launched with a $9,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's Farm to School program.

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Supervisor of Academics Randee Benaksas, Culinary Arts instructors Keith Johnson and Mark Mastrobattista, Agricultural Science instructor Erik Fargo and Special Education Teacher Mary Kreiss-Papalski helped secure the funding.

Students in the Agricultural Science program then set up, planted and maintained hydroponic stations purchased from Tower Garden, a company the school described as specializing in aeroponic gardening.

The towers were placed in a faculty room next to the school's Culinary Arts kitchen and planted with lettuce and herb seeds. Agricultural Science students monitored lighting, circulation systems and nutrient levels for plant growth.

After the plants matured, students worked with Culinary Arts classmates to harvest the crops.

The produce was used in dishes served to teachers and guests at events held at the school's TradeWins restaurant.

Students in the participating programs also took part in a Salad Day, where they harvested, prepared and ate the produce.

Because the gardens produced more than the kitchen could use, some staff members took home lettuce, greens and herbs to share with their families.

Science classes also used the gardens for classroom work.

According to the school, instructors had students test different growth mediums and learn about water properties, osmosis and diffusion.

Benaksas said the project has reached multiple parts of the school community.

"What makes this initiative so special is seeing student leadership in action at every step" she said. "Our biology and agriculture students took full ownership of setting up and managing our hydroponic Tower Gardens, while our culinary students turned those harvests into incredible dishes. With seed donations from wonderful partners like Wagner Farm in Warren and Martenette Farms in Hillsborough, and the incredible partnership with the Department of Agriculture, this project proves what's possible when hands-on science, culinary arts, and community support come together."

Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture recently visited the campus to see the project.

Nicole Broadwater, Farm to School Coordinator for the NJDA, said, "We're excited to see students take the lead in setting up and caring for their hydroponic system. This hands-on approach to learning helps students understand the food system, from the challenges of growing food to the rewards of harvesting it. And when students can take what they grow and use it in their culinary program they experience that connection from seed to plate. That's exactly what we hope to support through Farm to School Implementation and Sustainability Scholarship."

Students and staff are continuing the project and are researching new crops to grow and new meals to prepare, according to the school.

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