Students enrolled in Siobhan Guido’s classes at Connetquot High School are learning to grow various crops using an indoor vegetable tower garden within the classroom setting.

Tower gardens allow individuals to grow vegetables indoors all year round, and due to their vertical stature take up a limited amount of space. Once assembled, seeds germinate with the help of the device’s special built-in lighting and automatic timer and the aquaponic system regulates the appropriate water level in the unit. The students received an introduction to the device and project during a recent visit from Lety Algeri, a holistic health coach from the BOCES School Seeds program.

“This project is fantastic on so many levels,” said Mrs. Guido. “With the garden in our classroom, we will be able to explore many different scientific aspects including science principles, STEAM, nutrition, gardening, as well as environmental issues. We are pleased with the effort and enthusiasm our students demonstrated in building their own indoor vegetable garden.”