The Academy Charter School

Built in 2013, The Academy’s Aquaponics Garden consists of four raised wooden beds filled with hydroponic grow rocks and connected to a pond filled with Koi. The overall goal is to teach healthy eating habits to students while showing them how to sustain themselves through nature. The garden grows vegetables with the produce given to students and available for them to take home to their families. Garden projects have also become part of the school curriculum within multiple classes. Biology, Health and the Garden Elective classes all help maintain the garden while learning the science behind it. In the future, the hope is the garden will grow enough produce to support the students as well as be used to teach students the power of buying and selling (economics) through the development of a Farmer’s Market. Funding through Whole Kids Foundation will help fill gaps in garden maintenance, such as purchasing a secure shed and tools for students.