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NBCNewYork: The 1st Hydroponic Farm Inside a NYCHA Queens Community Center
Young people in one Queens community are getting a special hands-on after-school lesson in farming at the first hydroponic farm inside a New York City Housing Authority community center. The Astoria Houses has a very special urban farming program for elementary and middle school students.
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PS 85 Ribbon Cutting: Great Expectations for a Wonderful Farm-Classroom!
PS 85 Great Expectations in the Bronx formally opened its NY Sun Works hydroponic lab in April! Principal Medina was joined by Executive Superintendent Erika Tobia, State Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, and NYC Council Member Oswald Feliz’s Chief of Staff Theona Reets to cut the official ribbon and to pronounce the lab open. Funding for the lab was provided by the COFRA Foundation, in addition to a $5,000 Department of Education Office of Sustainability grant.
Great Expectations, an elementary school serving nearly 800 students in the Fordham section of the Bronx, is growing beautiful and fragrant lavender in their hydroponic systems that students used to decorate the classroom in addition to tomatoes, herbs, leafy greens and beautiful lettuce.
The lab has quickly become a place of joy and exploration for the students. Shared Ms. Montero de la Cruz, the hydroponic teacher, “a lot of them have discovered they like things they never thought they’d be eating. Many of them are saying now when they take their parents to the store, they’re saying, “I want to buy some swiss chard, hey, I want to buy some kale,’ so I’m glad that they’re taking that home to their parents to share with them.” And one excited student exclaimed, “My favorite thing about this class is getting to experience the plants up close . . .I’m looking forward to learning more this year.”
Students aren’t the only ones who are excited about what the lab has to offer. NY State Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia of the 86th District stated, “We should be doing this in every single school that we have, and I am always going to be a big supporter of these types of programs that actually teach our children early what is a way of living a good life and for the future, and making sure that they pass that through to the members of our community.”
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NY Power Authority and HANAC Cornerstone Celebrate New Hydroponic Lab At Astoria Houses
Last week, youth from Astoria Houses in Queens joined with NY Sun Works, funding partner NY Power Authority, and HANAC Cornerstone, a NYC-based community services organization, to celebrate the official opening of the new hydroponic learning lab at NYCHA’s Astoria Houses. The community hydroponic lab — the first of its kind on a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) campus — engages youth and community residents in urban farming, environmental justice and sustainability programming, while providing fresh, delicious produce for community residents to enjoy.
“The Astoria Houses garden is a learning lab that integrates science and sustainability into a fun program that everyone will enjoy,” said Lisa Payne Wansley, NYPA’s vice president of environmental justice. “Families will learn about cutting-edge technology through sustainable urban farming and be inspired to ask questions, investigate systems, and design solutions. Learning about STEM concepts will open up opportunities for young people and others who want to benefit from being part of New York State’s emerging clean energy economy.”
The lab is an exciting joint initiative between NY Sun Works, NYPA, and HANAC Cornerstone. NY Sun Works handled design and installation and will also provide ongoing maintenance, curriculum, and harvest support. NYPA will organize community education events while HANAC Cornerstone will manage day-to-day operations and programming. Programs will be available to both students and adults and eventually expanded to include intergenerational offerings.
NY1 News was on site for the event. You can check out the coverage — and hear what young farmer-scientists have to say about growing watermelon anand other farming fun — below.
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Funding Partner Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Joins NY Sun Works in Celebrating the Opening of Three Hydroponic Classrooms in NYC Schools
NY Sun Works was thrilled to celebrate the official opening of three beautiful hydroponic classrooms last week at the Brooklyn Urban Garden School (BUGS) middle school, PS 333 Longwood Academy of Discovery (serving K-5th grade students in the South Bronx), and the South Bronx Early College Academy (SBECA) middle school. All three labs were funded by Sun Club, the charitable arm of renewable energy provider Green Mountain Energy.
“The Sun Club aims to raise awareness on the importance and benefits of sustainable practices,” said Mark Parsons, Green Mountain Energy vice president.
“These projects allow us to work with NY Sun Works to educate children on integrating environmentally conscious, accessible, and practical elements into their everyday lives.”
Sun Club Program Manager Johnny Richardson traveled up from Green Mountain Energy’s Houston headquarters to celebrate the ribbon cuttings with students, school staff, and parents. Also joining the celebrations were City Council Member Rafael Salamanca and a representative from the office of NYS Senator Luis Sepulveda at Longwood Academy, and policy advisor Evan Burr from the Office of the Mayor along with a representative from City Council Member Alexa Avilés for the BUGS opening.
At all three events, students enthusiastically introduced their guests to the hydroponic systems, explaining how the systems work, the types of produce they grow, and what they love about growing food in the classroom.
Shared fifth grader Lexi from the Longwood Academy,
“It makes me feel like a scientist. When I grow up, I actually want to be a scientist.”
Check out the wonderful news story by Gilma Avalos from NBC News:
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NBCNewYork: Bronx Students Learn to Grow Food Smarter and More Sustainably
A Bronx school classroom is bustling with life, and we’re not just talking about all the plants. The students are excited because they’re learning how to grow food sustainably — and are getting to eat their homework. NBC New York’s Gilma Avalos reports.
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Hands-on hydroponic farming taught in NYC high schools – Fox 5 New York
Fox 5 NY News recently visited Q721 John F. Kennedy Jr. School in Queens to see our program in action. The story, which aired on the 5 o’clock news, showcased how high school students with special needs are learning science and sustainability through our hydroponic farming program.
Speaking with reporter Dana Arschin, students in the class shared their favorite crops to grow – from eggplant and snow peas to arugula and tomatoes – and what they love about hydroponic farming. Said 12th grader Jarule Boapeah, speaking through his electronic communication device, “I love to see plants growing — I feel proud.”
Special education teacher Conor Barry, who teaches hydroponic science & farming at the school, explained how the program meets students’ sensory needs. “For students who are visually impaired, they are able to hear the water throughout the day, raining down the tower garden. They are able to taste the vegetables, smell the vegetables, to feel what they are doing. So it’s a really hands-on program.”
It’s wonderful to see these farmer-scientists at work and the enthusiasm they have for what they’re learning. Said student Xavier Lindsay, speaking through a communication device, “I love to see the science of growing the garden and vegetables. It is amazing. We are scientists in Mr. Barry’s hydroponics class.”
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Fox5NY: Hands-on Hydroponic Farming Taught in NYC Special Education High Schools
Jarule Boapeah is one of 16 special-needs students at Q721 public high school in Elmhurst, Queens, learning all about hydroponic farming — right inside the classroom. “I love to see plants growing — I feel proud,” the 12th grader said through a special communication device.
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Honoring Girls in STEM!
Science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of global development goals, as outlined in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Yet while the global community has made progress in engaging women and girls in science, there is still a great deal of work to be done to eliminate the gender gap in STEM education and careers. To recognize and publicize these important goals, the United Nations General Assembly declared February 11th as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
In honor of this special day, NY Sun Works asked teachers from our partner schools to nominate girls who have demonstrated significant achievements in their science classes. We received 15 nominations, ranging from elementary to high school students, all of whom are passionate and dedicated scientists! The students were featured in a series of social media posts, along with our own NY Sun Works scientist, Becky Higgins, and April Contreras, an engineer at the NY Power Authority, one of our biggest partners.
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PS 158 in Brooklyn Unveils NY Sun Works Hydroponic Farm Classroom with Local Leaders
A NY Sun Works Hydroponic Farm Classroom is officially open at PS 158 Warwick Elementary School in Brooklyn! Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, City Council Member Sandy Nurse, and District Superintendent Tamra Collins, joined Principal Towles and partner NY Sun Works, to unveil the hydroponic classroom.
The PS 158 NY Sun Works farm classroom was funded by former Brooklyn Borough President, and now NYC Mayor, Eric Adams as part of his initiative to improve STEM education and access to nutritious food by investing in the next generation of scientists, climate leaders and farmers of the future. Throughout his tenure as borough president, Eric Adams funded a total of 74 hydroponic classrooms in Brooklyn public schools.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries stated, “What a blessing to be able to see this combination of understanding the importance of our climate and of nature, but also of…healthy eating. I look forward to doing everything I can in my capacity as your representative in Washington to make sure that all children get the highest quality of education possible so that they can be anything and everything that they want to be.”
While emphasizing the value of a true partnership, Manuela Zamora, Executive Director of NY Sun Works added, “We are honored to work with Principal Towles and her team at PS 158 to bring 21st century science and sustainability education into the public school classroom. The hydroponic lab will provide students with the opportunity to grow food while learning hands-on about science and climate education as well as nutrition, food justice and community service.”
“The mission of P.S. 158K is to provide a collaborative environment between school, home and the community that will develop rigorous academic achievement, promoting critical thinking and supporting the social and emotional needs of our students to become global thinkers of the
future. Aligning with District 19’s commitment to STEM education, the Hydroponic Lab opens the door for our students to explore, create and develop innovative ideas to develop solutions around providing healthy food choices for students and families in our community.
Thank you, Mayor Adams, for your support to ensure our students at PS158K and District 19 have the STEM resources they need to become global thinkers of the future. The seed you have sown in their lives today will bear much fruit for their future. Thank you NY Sunworks for
your partnership to support our Hydroponic Lab,” added Principal Towles.
D19 Superintendent Dr. Tamra Collins stated, “District 19 is committed to ensuring its students are provided with all the real world experiences and opportunities that STEM education has to offer. Our district acknowledges the importance of tapping into a child’s natural curiosity, creativity and innovation in order to ensure the development of their critical thinking skills. We work collaboratively across the district to make it a reality. Thank you, Mayor Adams for your continued support in ensuring District 19 students have access to state of the art STEM tools and resources. Your efforts ensure that these children will be the generation of innovators
equipped with the skills, passion, and opportunities to change the world!”
The hydroponic classroom at PS 158 is more than an urban farm as it brings the Pre-K through 5th grade community together. Students in Pre-K – 5th grade will explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) + sustainability topics while growing food with cutting-edge technology. The average NY Sun Works hydroponic classroom produces more than 500 pounds of vegetables per school year!
“A hydroponics garden is going to be familiar to these young kids forever in their lives, something that I had never seen or thought of in my time. What we need to do is continue to do that work. … I’m just so grateful that Eric Adams as borough president helped do this – I hope that I can match that type of energy and that effort and that investment, and that I continue to
help. … You will have a partner in me, and I’m looking forward to this long-term relationship where, again, we expect more of our children and we get more from our children,” stated Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
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MENAFN: PS 158 Warwick in Brooklyn Celebrates the Official Opening of their Hydroponic Classroom with Rep. Jeffries
PS 158 staff, elected officials, NY Sun Works staff, and students Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and first grade students. We harvested 14 lbs of vegetables for students to take home! A NY Sun Works Hydroponic Farm Classroom is officially open at PS 158 Warwick Elementary School in Brooklyn, NYC.
