Students from the University of Connecticut have planted and maintained a flex farm from Fork Farms and are now ready to harvest, taste, and celebrate the fresh greens they have grown on-site.
What
Students, teachers, and staff from UConn Stamford will participate in their first harvest of fresh lettuces they have grown on campus in their Flex Farm, an indoor mobile hydroponic farm from Fork Farms. The introduction of a Flex Farm on campus was made to offer year-round access to fresh food to more students.
Why
Students at UConn Stamford don't have access to a traditional college dining hall or other easy, healthy food service options. Therefore, unfortunately, students lack consistent access to fresh foods and often turn to processed, low-quality foods. UConn Stamford's enrollment has reached a record high, with a 10% overall increase this year and a 50% rise in first-year students. This surge highlights the growing importance of providing access to fresh foods on campus.
Through a partnership with UConn's Office of Sustainability, the Husky Harvest Stamford Food Pantry purchased a Flex Farm and a germination station to provide consistent fresh foods to all students. Students plan to grow a variety of lettuce microgreens, and later herbs, with the help of the Stamford Biology Department.
The Husky Harvest Food Pantries' mission is to fight food insecurity across UConn, and these new hydroponic growing systems have been put in place to support the university's hunger relief operations and put more nutritious, fresh food options in the mouths of students. Typically, offering fresh produce is something Husky Harvest hasn't been able to do in large quantities, until now as a Flex Farm can grow 25 pounds of lettuce every 28 days.
The growing season is coming to an end soon in Connecticut, but not at UConn Stamford. Staff members hope to expand this program next year to grow more fresh food and use the Flex Farm as a comprehensive learning tool in science-based classes.
The Flex Farm can grow 400 pounds of fresh greens each year in a very small space and offers hundreds of learning opportunities for students in the areas of STEM, nutrition, agriculture, sustainability, and health. By combining hands-on experimentation in real-world farming scenarios, hydroponics provides numerous benefits for student engagement, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
When
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Where
UConn Stamford - Second floor: Room 235
One University Place
Stamford, CT 06901
Source: Hey Stamford