Members of NY Sun Works, a non-profit that builds innovative science labs in urban schools, through its Greenhouse Project Initiative to educate students and teachers about the science of sustainability, joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson at Norwood’s P.S. / M.S. 20‘s hydroponic farm on Wednesday, Jan. 25, to announce the expansion of hydroponics farm technology to 20 local schools.

 

According to verticalroots.com, put simply, hydroponics is a way to skip the soil, sub in a different material to support the roots of the plant, and grow crops directly in nutrient-rich water.

 

The $2.5 million boroughwide project would put thousands of K-12 students in new state-of-the-art, hydroponic farms, teaching sustainability, climate, and food justice. P.S. / M.S. 20, located at 3050 Webster Avenue, was selected as the site of the announcement as the school already has a successful hydroponics urban farm program.

Manuela Zamora, executive director of NY Sun Works, said of the planned expansion of the program, “This expansion will not only bring hands-on hydroponic farming curriculum to hundreds of students in The Bronx but will also empower them to take action, become advocates and be part of the solution to our growing climate crisis.”

 

She added, “This incredible investment will also help combat food insecurity in underserved communities and cultivate our city’s next generation of environmentalists, climate conscious and community leaders.”

 

The foundational elements for hydroponic farming are fresh water, filtered with a balanced pH, oxygen, which can be provided through an air stone or by installing an air pump, root support materials like vermiculite, perlite, peat moss, coconut fiber, and rockwool, nutrients like magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and light.

P.S. / M.S. 20 principal, Dr. Carla Ling, said of the school’s existing program, “Our hydroponics farm classroom has opened a unique educational experience to our students that engages them in STEM in an innovative and exciting way.” Ling added, “Urban farming creates a hands-on learning environment that fosters students’ interest in the life sciences, climate change, and food justice, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate this Bronx expansion.”

 

For her part, Gibson said of the program expansion, “It is an unfortunate fact that Black and brown communities are by far the most affected by climate change and systemic environmental injustice in our city.”

 

She added, “If we are unable to undo the mistakes of the past, then we must do everything in our power to ensure our youth are also part of the solution. That is why today, I am honored to be here for the opening of these state-of-the-art hydroponic farm classrooms that will empower our young learners across The Bronx.”

District 11 City Councilman Eric Dinowitz was also present on the day, and said, “As a former public school environmental science teacher, a hydroponic farm classroom was only something my students and I could dream of, but now it’s a reality for so many.”

 

According to a statement by NY Sun Works officials, of the 20 schools opening new hydroponic farms, 13 will be funded directly by Gibson’s office, six more will be funded by city council members who are part of the Bronx delegation, and the last school will be funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

The new program will bring hydroponic farms to a total of 35 Bronx schools by the end of the 2022-23 school year, and officials said it’s estimated that the program will reach about 8,000 students per year.

The announcement comes as part of the upcoming annual Bronx Week which will celebrate established partner schools with the borough’s commitment to education on the effects of climate change. Partner schools will receive ongoing development training from NY Sun Works, with weekly visits from a hydroponics specialist who will teach system maintenance, and will offer support in planting, harvesting and distribution support.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.