US: Youth hydroponics facility officially launches

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ), in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, have launched a new hydroponic farm at the Murry Bergtraum Educational Campus, a step in addressing food insecurity while empowering New York City students with 21st-century STEM skills and food justice advocacy training.

With lead funding provided by a $148,000 sustainability grant from Sun Club®, the 1,500-square-foot farm is projected to grow 9,000 pounds of fresh produce annually, including leafy greens, herbs, and vegetables. Its innovative design uses 90% less water than traditional farming and eliminates harmful pesticides, aligning perfectly with environmental stewardship and urban sustainability goals.

Katherine Soll, TFFJ's CEO and Co-Founder, explained, "By training students to grow thousands of pounds of fresh produce in their own school, we're giving them the ability to feed their families and their neighbors while building a food-secure future."

"This innovative project fills a critical need for sustainable food sources and has the power to greatly improve access to healthy, fresh produce in the city," said Andrea Ortega-Toledano, senior director of sustainability, Green Mountain Energy. "We couldn't be prouder to partner with Teens for Food Justice to help cultivate the next generation of leaders committed to clean energy, healthy communities, and a sustainable planet."

Since November 2023, Urban Assembly Maker Academy students have been preparing for the new farm's launch by experimenting with smaller-scale hydroponic systems, DIY grow kits, and a green wall. Now fully functional, the farm will provide STEM-driven programming and food justice initiatives to more than 300 students annually, equipping them with skills for the growing green-sector economy and empowering them to advocate for equitable food systems in their communities. Fiona C., a student leader, remarked, "This farm is saying that we need a greener New York City that makes better use of its urban space to produce the food we need and maximize the resources we have."

Produce grown on the farm will be incorporated into the school's cafeteria meals, shared with students' families, and distributed to food-insecure community members through a partnership with local non-profit Gotham Park. Gotham Park, founded in 2021, is dedicated to creating and supporting a hyper-urban public park at the Manhattan landing of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a mission to transform previously inaccessible spaces into vibrant community hubs.

Principal Amy Piller reflected on the journey, saying, "This hydroponic farm started as an idea in my very first week at Murry Bergtraum. Three years later, it's a reality. Today, as we celebrate its opening, we're planting seeds of hope, resilience, and action—helping our students become changemakers in their communities."