Green Our Planet, a leading force in school gardening & hydroponics, STEM education, nature connection, and sustainability, announces all Title I schools in Nevada will be eligible to receive HydroConnect, a hydroponics program that provides students access to learn STEM, nutrition, conservation and entrepreneurship skills through hands-on experiences, thanks to a recent grant from the Engelstad Foundation.
“We are absolutely thrilled to provide this opportunity to students at Title I schools to run a successful hydroponics garden within their classrooms,” stated Ciara Byrne, CEO of Green Our Planet. “At Green Our Planet, we are building a movement to create joy and justice in communities by empowering people to grow food and connect to the magic and majesty of the universe. This would not be possible without the support and funding of Senate Bill 341 signed by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, the American Rescue Plan Act and the Engelstad Foundation.”
Hydroponics systems allow students to grow plants in a nutrient-rich solution instead of soil, which uses 80% less water than traditional outdoor gardens. Hydroponics systems are climate-controlled and can be kept indoors, making food production and education possible any time of the year in any weather condition. Green Our Planet is the first organization in the country to offer this opportunity to all Title I schools within the state of Nevada.
In addition, the first 25 private, charter or non-Title I schools to apply will also be eligible to receive the program for $2,000, originally priced at $10,000, all made possible by Senate Bill 341 signed by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and supported by Nevada state leaders and co-sponsors of the bill. Schools that are interested in receiving HydroConnect must apply byTuesday, November 7, 2023.
Schools that apply will receive their hydroponic systems and begin training in January 2024. Schools who receive the hydroponics systems will also be eligible to participate in the Giant Student Farmers Markets in spring of 2024. The HydroConnect program application can be found here.
For more information on the Green Our Planet’s HydroConnect and other programs, please visit greenourplanet.org.
Leave a Comment