Columbus St. Mary middle school students are digging into science, sustainability and stewardship with the launch of two new Flex Farm hydroponic gardens from Fork Farms.
Thanks to the guidance of middle school science teacher Mrs. Katie Patti and the support of Mr. Hanson, students in grades 7 and 8 planted nearly 270 lettuce plants in September, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in hands-on education at St. Mary in the German Village area.
Each Flex Farm unit — the most efficient and scalable indoor vertical hydroponic system in the world — has the capacity to grow more than 394 pounds of fresh produce annually. Portable and space saving, the units operate on a standard electrical outlet and less than 10 square feet of space.
The two hydroponic systems are currently housed in the school’s middle school science lab and “The Hub” in the main building. In addition to learning how to maintain the plants, students will monitor growth, explore hydroponic science and eventually harvest crops in about 30 days. Plans are underway for middle school students to share their knowledge and demonstrations with younger grades throughout the year.
This initiative also aligns with the school’s Laudato Si’ initiative, inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical On Care for Our Common Home. The program emphasizes environmental stewardship and encourages communities to care for the Earth through sustainable and faith-driven practices.
“St. Mary students are hard at work growing vegetables and their minds as they work with our new hydroponic gardening centers,” St. Mary principal Gina Stull said. “From starting seedlings to transferring and harvesting crops, students are learning about data collection and fertilizing to make their work a success. It’s so exciting to see them eager to learn and be so engaged in science and engineering.”
Mrs. Patti said, “Our hydroponic gardening program is designed to spark curiosity, cultivate responsibility, and connect science to real life. By exploring hydroponics, students connect Ohio state and NGSS science standards to real-world applications, engaging directly with sustainability, innovation, and the future of our food supply.”
St. Mary School will continue to share updates as students grow and harvest produce, integrating hydroponics into the curriculum and community life.
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