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Fort Recovery Middle School science teacher Crystal Fullenkamp harvests lettuce from a hydroponic tower system in her classroom for the second time.
FORT RECOVERY - The produce growing inside of Fort Recovery Middle School isn't just a science project - it's what's for lunch.
In a collaboration with the school's food service department, science teacher Crystal Fullenkamp, with some help from her students, has successfully grown two life cycles of Green Star and Romaine lettuce inside her classroom using a hydroponic tower system.
"Lisa Fullenkamp, the head of the cafeteria, heard the idea from Bradford Schools," Crystal said. "We went and visited there and they kind of told us about the process. Then our middle school principal Holly Wermert wrote a grant."
Fort Recovery Middle School science classes are growing Green Star and Romaine lettuce in the hydroponic tower.
Lisa was tipped off to the idea through a regular food service newsletter she gets with news at nearby districts.
"Everybody was just shooting ideas back and forth at each other. And this (idea) came across the Bradford food service lady," Lisa said. "She's the one that was putting it out there. And then (I thought), 'Well, maybe I'll reach out to her.' She gave me the information and gave me a website to look at. Then from there I'm like, 'OK, this is not a bad idea.'"
Wermert applied for, and was ultimately awarded, a $6,700 grant from Cooper Farms for the project, which they call Fresh for the Fort.
To start the program, Lisa, Crystal and Wermert met virtually with a representative of Wisconsin-based hydroponic company Fork Farms.
Not long after, their hydroponic tower arrived - and along with that, the company provided Crystal with curriculum aligned to state standards to integrate into her classes.
"Right now, it's kind (in a) of a trial period, but next year we're going to have a middle school science club. We're going to try to grow lettuce and other things. Seventh grade science is all environmental science - from the water cycle and how clean the water is, to growth cycles to food chains and how it all starts with plants," Crystal said. "It kind of ties in nicely with the seventh grade environmental science curriculum. But, I didn't do any of the curriculum to be honest yet because we just wanted to see how it would work."
Fort Recovery Middle School science teacher Crystal Fullenkamp checks on the hydroponic growing system in her class room.
Crystal and her students planted their first lettuce crops on March 23, and by April 15, it was ready for its first harvest, she said.
"The eighth graders asked me daily when they could sample some lettuce, and so when we picked last Wednesday, I literally cut off leaves and put it on a tray and they stampeded up here to just shove lettuce in their mouth - no dressing, (just) dry lettuce. And they were super excited," Crystal said.
Once it was harvested, it was taken to the cafeteria, where Lisa served it to students in Caesar salads on March 27. Leftover lettuce was used in the school's salad bar for students and staff.
"I bet I had, I don't know, at least 20 kids come up to me personally and say, 'The lettuce was so good on Friday. Was that your lettuce?' They call it my lettuce, like I own the thing," Crystal said. "(They said) 'Was that your lettuce? We could tell the difference. It was so good.' They come in and the first thing they do is check (the tower) and they're impressed with how fast it's growing. Even yesterday, (they said) 'You need to cut this again.' I was like, 'I know, it's growing fast.' So, the seventh and eighth graders are totally invested."
After one harvest, Fort Recovery Middle School science teacher Crystal Fullenkamp and her kids were able to grow enough lettuce to feed roughly 150 students plus staff members in the cafeteria.
Not only is the project exciting for students, but it's filling a need in Lisa's kitchen, she said.
"Lisa came and she basically said they're getting boxes of lettuce, they're throwing some out and getting reimbursed for it, but they then they'd have to run to the local IGA, which is now closed, to get compensated for that," Wermert said. "I just felt like that hustle and bustle was crazy. You're not going to be able to call Walmart and get it delivered or whatever else. So it was creating this extra step.There was a need there."
With lettuce mastered, the group hopes to expand their garden into strawberries, and possibly even flowers.
"Obviously, I want the lettuce for the cafeteria's sake, but hypothetically, if we would get another (tower), I think it would be fun in the fall to grow mums or something if the kids want," Crystal said. "Or in the spring we could start growing some pansies because they (need) to be planted when it's cold out. And just have the kids help from the beginning to the end and actually put them out in the flower beds. I just think that gives ownership and pride."
After one harvest, Fort Recovery Middle School science teacher Crystal Fullenkamp and her kids were able to grow enough lettuce to feed roughly 150 students plus staff members in the cafeteria.
Lettuce fast facts:
• Green leaf lettuce looks like romaine lettuce, but isn't. It is soft and tender with a mild flavor and is best eaten fresh in salads or sandwiches.
• Romaine lettuce is one of the most popular types of leafy greens. It is versatile and has a crispy, mild, sweet flavor. Over 72,000 acres of romaine are planted and 1.1 million tons are harvested in California annually, making it the second most produced lettuce type behind iceberg.
• Eating one serving of leafy green vegetables per day can help slow cognitive decline.
• Many types of lettuce are rich in vitamins A,B9, C and K.
SOURCE: lettuceinfo.org
