Project Overview

The Urban Garden Project is a student-led initiative that combines vertical farming techniques with smart technology to create a sustainable food production system within our high school. The garden grows vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers that are used in the school cafeteria, reducing food miles and providing fresh, nutritious ingredients for student meals.

The Challenge

Our team identified several challenges in our school's food system:

• Limited access to fresh, locally grown produce
• High environmental impact of transported food
• Lack of hands-on learning opportunities in sustainable agriculture
• Underutilized vertical space in the school courtyard

Our Solution

We designed and built a modular vertical garden system that:

• Utilizes hydroponic growing techniques to conserve water
• Incorporates automated monitoring of soil moisture, light levels, and nutrient content
• Features a rainwater collection system for irrigation
• Includes QR codes that link to information about each plant variety
• Uses solar power for pumps and monitoring equipment

Impact & Results

Since its implementation, the Urban Garden Project has:

• Produced over 200 pounds of fresh vegetables and herbs
• Reduced cafeteria food costs by approximately 15%
• Decreased the school's carbon footprint by reducing food transportation
• Served as an outdoor classroom for biology, environmental science, and sustainability courses
• Inspired similar projects in two neighboring schools