Q. How does a garden grow at Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School?
A. Hydroponics!
Students in Matthew Saucier’s Energy Systems class are growing peas, cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, peppers, herbs and more using a nutrient-rich solution and water. No soil needed!
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water without soil. The water must be enriched with nutrients and the plants need some type of inert medium to support the root system.
The term hydroponics comes from Latin word parts “hydro,” meaning water, and “ponos,” meaning labor. So in hydroponics, the water does the work of delivering the nutrients to the plants.
The hydroponics unit offers a hands-on learning opportunity that allows students to explore physical science, biology, engineering, chemistry and ecology, develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and also enjoy the food they have grown in the classroom.
In just a few short weeks, the sprouts have grown into mature plants ready to harvest!
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