Modoc High School AG students have officially completed their first harvest using a hydroponic tower installed in Mrs. Bickford’s (DeMoss) classroom. The tower was funded through a “Grants for Growing” project she applied for last fall.
“Luckily, they were awarded the grant to purchase the tower and supplies so that they could expose students to hydroponic systems and grow their own food beyond the Ag Dept. Greenhouse.”
At the start of the spring semester, horticulture students planted green leaf and romaine lettuce seeds into rockwool flats. “Being this was the first attempt with the tower, they only planted one tray of seeds so that they could understand how the tower and process fully works.” In photos, Josh Minto is seen watering the seeds, and Eliza Peña reads the seed packages to understand their growing requirements.
Once the seedlings were strong enough, they were transplanted into the hydroponic tower. Hydroponics is a way of growing plants without soil, using a water-based nutrient solution instead. “Several times a week, the pH of the water and nutrient levels were checked and adjusted. The plants also received 17 hours of light from the grow light seen in the center of the tower.”
This month, students harvested the mature lettuce. Scotty Price, Michael Murray, Savannah Connors, and Aubree Knighton helped cut and package the produce during class. Students Aubree Knighton and Savannah Connors then delivered 12 bags of romaine lettuce and 13 bags of green leaf lettuce to MJUSD Food Service.
“Although this is not the first time the MHS Ag Dept has harvested and sold lettuce to MHS Food Services, this was their first ever hydroponic harvest.” In past years, lettuce was grown in the school’s greenhouse using soil. Mrs. Bickford shared her vision for the future: “The ultimate goal is to try to alternate lettuce harvests between the greenhouse (traditionally grown in soil) and hydroponic tower and more frequently supply MJUSD Food Services. We would also like to supply other produce, as our facilities and growing times allow.”
Right now, basil and parsley seedlings are growing and nearly ready to be transplanted into the tower. The MHS Ag Department is excited to continue expanding the project and learning more about hydroponics along the way.
