Cathedral of St. Joseph Elementary School students learn to grow

Julie Smith/News Tribune
Thursday, April 15, 2021 was the day to pick lettuce so during morning class, Caroline Roepe, in gray, and Maddie Marhc, in pink, were among students in Monica Higgins room to pick it.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Thursday, April 15, 2021 was the day to pick lettuce so during morning class, Caroline Roepe, in gray, and Maddie Marhc, in pink, were among students in Monica Higgins room to pick it.

Cathedral of St. Joseph School fourth-graders are learning how to grow edible plants without soil this semester.

St. Joseph Principal Spencer Allen had been looking for new ways to engage students, and that led him to Lincoln University's agriculture program and researcher Jonathon Egilla. Egilla has successfully taught hydroponics through Lincoln University Cooperative Research Programs and other assignments for the university's Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Using federal Title IV funding, Allen was able to acquire a hydroponic garden, which was placed in the school cafeteria.

The garden resembles a cylinder and feeds water and food through the tower, which is then recirculated over and over.

On March 2, students in Monica Higgins' class planted seeds in rockwool (plant-starter) cubes, added water, covered the cubes with plastic and placed them under a lamp.

Over the course of six weeks, students watched the progress every day when they visited the lunchroom, and recently, the day came for the students to pick the fruits of their labor: lettuce, which was used in salads for school lunches.

One of the benefits of growing edible plants in a controlled environment is it minimizes or eliminates insects, so there is no need for insecticides or herbicides. Another plus in using this contained system is it conserves water and allows for year-round growth.

"We are continuing to explore ways to take students beyond the textbooks," Allen said, "and we are excited about finding other ways students can learn to be good stewards of the environment."