Beyond the Classroom: How Flex Farms Are Growing the Next Generation of Changemakers

At Fork Farms, we believe education has the power to change the world, and that change starts with access to fresh food, to hands-on learning, and to real-world experiences that inspire action. Across the country, schools are turning to Flex Farms as more than just a source of fresh produce; they’re using them as living labs that help students grow into compassionate, informed changemakers.

From STEM experiments to sustainability lessons and student-led food initiatives, Flex Farms are cultivating curiosity, resilience, and a sense of social responsibility that extends far beyond the classroom walls.

Hydroponics in the Classroom: Where STEM Gets Real

When a student adjusts the pH level of nutrient-rich water or tracks the growth of a lettuce seedling over time, they’re experimenting, problem-solving, and thinking like scientists and engineers.

Flex Farms bring STEM to life by integrating biology, chemistry, environmental science, and technology into a single hands-on tool. Whether it’s analyzing the nitrogen cycle, designing data charts, or working on LED light timers, students are applying textbook knowledge to real-life scenarios and seeing the impact of their decisions in real time. These are all life-long skills that students will carry into their future careers and decisions.

Empowering Healthy Choices Through Nutrition Education

Flex Farms also helps students become advocates for their own health. Studies show that when young people grow kale, arugula, or tomatoes themselves, they’re far more likely to try it—and even love it. More importantly, they begin to understand how nutrition affects their energy, mood, and long-term well-being.

In many of the school districts we work with, produce grown in Flex Farms goes straight into the school cafeteria, giving students the powerful experience of seeing food go from seed to the school’s salad bar within minutes. This hyper-local freshness doesn’t just improve taste, it improves nutrient quality of the food, reduces nutrient loss, and helps students make meaningful connections between what they eat and how it’s grown.

Building Sustainably Minded Citizens

In today’s world, sustainability is a necessity. Flex Farms empower schools to teach environmental stewardship in a hands-on, impactful way. By growing food hydroponically, students learn how to reduce food miles, conserve water, eliminate packaging waste, and grow with fewer pesticides. In general, indoor hydroponic farming uses between 80 to 90% less water than traditional farming practices; our Flex Farms use 98% less water than traditional farming by leveraging closed-loop, recirculating hydroponic systems. In 2023, our Flex Farms had the capacity to save 4.6 million food miles, 567 thousand pounds of food waste, 12 million kWh of CO2, and 32 million gallons of water in communities across the globe.

As students measure water usage or compare hydroponic methods to traditional farming, they see firsthand how sustainable practices can lead to a healthier planet, and how they can play a role in the future of our planet and, therefore, their own futures.

Resources to Help you Get Started on Bringing Flex Farms to your School

Any time of year is an ideal time to start planning how to grow in Flex Farms. Since hydroponic gardens can grow all year long regardless of climate and calendars, they offer more flexibility to both teachers and students. Whether you’re a teacher, food service director, or administrator, you don’t need a green thumb or a science degree to bring a Flex Farm into your school. Fork Farms provides turnkey resources and support to help you launch and sustain a successful program, including:

• Comprehensive Curriculum Integration:  Lesson plans aligned to national STEM, nutrition, and sustainability standards. We also include ideas for community involvement, harvest events at the school, media events, and more.
• Training and Support: Ongoing professional development and onboarding for educators and staff.
• Impact Measurement Tools: Track and report on student engagement, food production, and learning outcomes.
• Farmative: Our digital platform that serves as a one-stop location to access all resources to grow with Fork Farms technology, including videos, tutorials, an online store, and more. It is also a place for partners to connect with Fork Farms experts and other farmers to share harvests, ideas, and research, and build an abundant online farming community.
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• The Next Generation Starts Here

Students who grow food also grow confidence. They grow leadership skills and the understanding that their actions can make a difference in their communities and the world. This is empowerment; something that is key to the foundation of Fork Farms. When we empower students with knowledge, skills, and purpose, we grow impactful leaders.

Interested in bringing Flex Farms to your school or district? Connect with our team to learn how you can start growing strong changemakers today.