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Wall student, agriculture teacher showcase Perkins‑funded hydroponic tower gardens
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Summary
An agriculture educator and student demonstrated two Perkins‑grant hydroponic tower gardens, describing classroom seed‑germination work, grow‑light schedules and plans to sell surplus plants to raise funds for local needs.
Megan Jensen, Wall School District agriculture educator and FFA advisor, and student Lewis Rancor presented two hydroponic tower gardens the district received through a Perkins grant and described how the towers are being used in classroom instruction.
Jensen said her horticulture students ran seed‑germination tests, started seedlings and moved successful plants into the towers. ‘‘This past spring we applied for a Perkins grant to receive two tower gardens,’’ Jensen said. She explained the classroom uses of the towers and the goal of giving students practical hands‑on experience with plant science and leadership through supervised agricultural projects.
Rancor and Jensen described technical details of the hydroponic system. A speaker with hands‑on responsibility explained the towers use a bottom pump that cycles nutrient water up through the column and rains it over plant capsules held in peat moss; pH testing is performed periodically and mineral blends are added as recommended. The board and presenters discussed water sources; the presenters said they are using district (Wall) water but expect to switch to distilled or otherwise treated water when they perform full water changes. Jensen told the board the lights are currently on a timer for about 14 hours a day and that a full water change is recommended on an approximately six‑month cycle.
The presenters said the original plan to use tower produce in the school kitchen proved not feasible this year; instead, if plants flourish they will be sold to community members and proceeds directed to a person or organization in need. Jensen also said student Lewis is managing the towers now and that a peer (Tyler Hines) will take over when Rancor graduates. Jensen described the towers as a teaching tool for middle‑school rotations and said the program ties to both the school’s horticulture and leadership curricula.
Board members asked practical questions about maintenance, testing and transplanting seedlings for sale; Jensen and Rancor explained that seedlings can be transplanted into pots for sale and that they plan to follow manufacturer guidance on water and nutrient cycles while gradually experimenting with additional fertilization.
The presentation concluded with announcements about upcoming FFA week and related student activities. The board thanked the students and staff for the demonstration and encouraged district staff to coordinate logistics if the towers are moved between classrooms.
