Tower Gardens Delivered to Upper-Grade Schools

Before

After

Teachers at Park City High School (PCHS) and Treasure Mountain Junior High have embraced Tower Gardens in their classrooms to be used in very creative ways. Students will benefit from these innovative-thinking instructors who will introduce them to a new way of growing plants and food.

Michelle Stratton, English teacher at TMJH, seized the opportunity to add creativity in her classroom with the EATS sponsored Tower Garden. Michelle was not familiar with hydroponic gardens but was intrigued to include some fun into her curriculum. Ideas she has for using the Tower Garden include having students write from the perspective of a vegetable observer, practice descriptive word choices using the garden as a source of adjective options, and incorporating the growth cycles into her year-long theme on “change”. Michelle hopes that having students in contact with a garden will be a reminder of healthier food choices. Of receiving the Tower Garden, Michelle says, “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate and try something new.”

Jordan Ulrich, Autocad/Woodshop teacher at PCHS, learned about EATS Tower Gardens and wanted to bring one in for his students who are studying and learning how to make hydroponic gardens of their own.

From Jordan: “I teach the Architecture and Engineering programs at Park City High School which run concurrently with Weber State University. Several months ago, my program received a PTSO mini grant for building a vertical garden proof of concept prototypes. Many of my students have been designing gardens that they plan to place around the high school where windows are located. Unfortunately, the engineering/architecture CAD lab in which these gardens were designed has no windows. The tower garden will provide an example of a self-contained system for the students to enjoy as they improve their own vertical garden designs. The natural light spectrum, humidity, and living flora will create a more tranquil and ergonomic learning environment, while the cooking class across the hall will benefit from cross-curricular opportunities provided by fresh produce. Furthermore, in light of Salt Lake’s infamously bad air, incorporating air-purifying plants into architectural plans have been of particular focus in my classroom. I hope the EATS tower garden will inspire my students to incorporate vertical garden designs in their future architectural and engineering endeavors.”