On August 13, a fleet of innovation rolled out of Fennimore, Wisconsin, as educators from nearly two dozen school districts drove away with new knowledge about hydroponic growing and our Flex Farms in their trucks. The event, hosted by Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, marked another milestone in bringing Fork Farms’ technology into the hands of schools ready to grow their own fresh food and cultivate hands-on learning experiences.
Flex Farms in Wisconsin Schools
The Flex Farms will power hands-on STEM learning, teach students about nutrition and sustainability, and supply cafeterias with fresh, hyperlocal food year-round. The local educators are planning to use the Flex Farms both for education (plant sciences and food science classes) and to grow their own fresh food, including lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries for school lunches.
Each Flex Farm can grow up to 25 pounds of fresh produce every month in just 9 square feet of space, easily transforming a corner in a classroom into a thriving and fruitful garden.
Expanding Hydroponics Education in Wisconsin and Beyond
Governor Tony Evers, who attended the event, is excited about the technology’s ability to serve both education and community needs and said in the Telegraph Herald, “It’s a good program for schools, but it’s also a good program just in general. We have food banks all across the state of Wisconsin, and some of them are beginning to use this.”
At Fork Farms, we believe food is an opportunity to learn, grow, connect, and build healthier communities. Seeing districts across Wisconsin and beyond embrace this vision shows us that innovation is most powerful when it’s put into the hands of educators and students.
Here’s to the next generation of growers and changemakers in and out of the classroom. Read all about the event here in the Telegraph Herald. Happy back-to-school season and a new year of learning to all!
Reach out to our team to learn how your students or community can access and grow fresh food year-round.
Photos provided by Southwest Wisconsin Technical College