Foundations of Hydroponics Skill Certificate

Our industry-recognized credential gives high school students foundational knowledge and hands-on experience to prepare them to enter a career in indoor farming.

Teenagers-Checking-Nutrients

Skills Industry Needs

This skill certificate verifies a student’s technical competency and validates foundational knowledge of and skills in hydroponics operation. Skills learned include: plant biology, seed germination, transplanting, hydroponic nutrient management, pH balancing, data collection and interpretation, water flow troubleshooting, harvesting, and crop yield economics.

How teachers become evaluators

Teachers are certified after completing our 1-hour online training course and working with the Flex Farm for one semester.

Core credential activities

Teachers teach the appropriate grade-level curriculum to the students, supervise them operating a Flex Farm for one growth cycle from seed to harvest, assess them using our Badge Program, and keep records of completed Badge Program sheets.

How students earn this credential

Students participate in curriculum training, operate a Flex Farm from seed to harvest, and demonstrate competency of foundational knowledge and skills by successfully completing the Badging Assessment Program.

Group (2)

Certification

Upon successful completion and assessment, a student will be awarded a Certificate of Completion for Foundations of Hydroponics by Fork Farms, through website form completion by the assessing teacher.

Equipment Required

A hydroponic Flex Farm is needed for students to gain hands-on experience to earn this credential. Flex Farm purchase includes access to Farmative, our online platform with our teacher training course, curriculum, and Badge Assessment program. In Ohio there is no additional cost per student to earn the credential.

FlexFarm Plant Spaces (1)
ph_download-thin

Receive a sample of our K-12 STEM curriculum. Full lesson package included with Farmative access.

Interested in starting this credential program in your district?

Connect with an expert member of our team to request more information. Let’s work together to bring your workforce-readiness vision to life.

Read the Get Growing Blog

Find inspiration and get the latest stories and trends on hydroponic farming!

Back to School: Five Ways Schools Are Growing More Than Fresh Food

The start of a new school year brings both fresh opportunities and familiar challenges.
Fork Farms Team

The Fresh Produce Problem at Food Banks And What's Finally Changing

Walk into almost any food bank in America and you'll see the same thing: canned soup, boxed pasta, shelf-stable meals. Food that keeps and that easily travels. Food that gets the ...
Fork Farms Team

From Seed to Salad Bar: Highlights from ANC 2026

Every year, the School Nutrition Association's Annual National Conference (ANC) brings together the people shaping the future of school meals. This year's conference in Charlotte, ...
Fork Farms Team

Why Growing Food Closer to People Matters: Five Ways to Have More Confidence in the Food You Serve

Growing food where people live, learn, work, heal, and gather gives communities greater visibility into how food is grown, harvested, and served. By Alex Tyink, Founder & CEO ...
Alex Tyink

The Highlands at Aero Park Residents Celebrate First Harvest with Community Salad Party

The Green Room at the Highlands at Aero Park Apartments & Townhomes 55+ in Menomonee Falls, WI was buzzing with excitement on June 18 as residents gathered for their ...
Fork Farms Team

Growing Fresh Food Where It’s Needed Most: Inside Rockwell Automation’s New Clock Tower Farms

Food insecurity is rising and at the same time, access to fresh, nutritious produce remains one of the biggest gaps in hunger relief. That’s why Fork Farms is proud to partner ...
Fork Farms Team

Saratoga Elementary's First Harvest Brings Learning to Life

When the hydroponically-grown fresh romaine hit the cafeteria line, word spread quickly. Students were excited to recognize the lettuce on their trays, and others who had already ...
Fork Farms Team

The Real Cost of Fresh Food and How Schools Are Changing It

For schools across the country, serving fresh food has never been more important, or more complicated.
Fork Farms Team

This Earth Month, Let’s Not Just Talk About Sustainability, Let’s Build It

Every April, conversations around sustainability take center stage with Earth Day. Organizations share commitments, new goals are set, and reports are published. But for many, ...
Fork Farms Team

Superfood Grown Close to Home: Wisconsin PureGrow Project Sets a New Standard for Romaine

At Sanford Health Marshfield Clinic at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, food isn’t just fuel; it’s medicine. Thanks to the Wisconsin PureGrow Project, it’s a verified ...
Fork Farms Team

From Lettuce to Lunch Line: Students at Lander Valley High School Grow Fresh Food for Their Cafeteria

At Lander Valley High School in Lander, Wyoming, students are learning firsthand what it means to grow real food—and seeing the results served on their lunch trays.
Fork Farms Team

A Fresh Start for a Healthier Year: How Hydroponics Supports a Fresh Food Diet

A new year invites reflection, renewal, and a chance to build healthier habits. In 2026, that fresh start comes with timely guidance at the national level. The newly released ...
Fork Farms Team

A Prescription for the Future: Reimagining the Role of Food in Healthcare

As this Food Is Medicine (FIM) series comes to a close, one message is clear: the future of healthcare will not be defined solely by new drugs or devices, but by how well we ...
Krista Koranda

Fork Farms Named One of the Region’s Fastest-Growing Companies

We’re thrilled to share that Fork Farms has been named the 7th fastest-growing company in the region by Insight on Business. This recognition means a lot to us due to how we’re ...
Krista Koranda

Growing Gratitude: How Food Banks, Fresh Food, and Community Come Together During the Holidays

The holiday season is a time of gratitude, generosity, and gathering around the table. For many of us, that table is full. But for millions of families across the country, the ...
Krista Koranda

From Harvest to Plate: Osborn Students Grow Fresh Greens—Right at School

On Thursday, December 18, students in Osborn School District didn’t just eat fresh lettuce for lunch—they grew it themselves.
Krista Koranda

Small but Mighty: The Best Things You Can Make with Fresh Microgreens from the Flex Micro™

At Fork Farms, we’ve always believed that the smallest things can make the biggest impact, and microgreens are proving that true in kitchens, classrooms, and communities around ...
Krista Koranda

The Food Is Medicine Movement and the Holidays: Nourishing Well-Being with Fresh, Local Greens

At Fork Farms, we believe food has the power to transform health — not just in clinical settings or classrooms, but in the everyday moments that make up our lives. And perhaps no ...
Krista Koranda

Fresh from the Farm: Cucumber Mint Holiday Mocktail

As the holidays approach, there’s nothing better than gathering with friends and family to share good food, laughter, and a few festive drinks. And, while the season often leans ...
Krista Koranda

Growing Nutrition Security: A Food is Medicine Approach to the Holidays

As the holidays approach, our thoughts naturally turn to food and favorite recipes, shared meals, and the traditions that bring people together. But this special season also ...
Krista Koranda