North Elementary Offers Hydroponics Entrepreneurship Workshop

Students in grades 4-12 can learn year-round hydroponic gardening while they imagine themselves as budding entrepreneurs in the North Elementary YOUTH Gardens summer-long project. A one-day workshop to kick off this event will be held from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Wednesday, June 21st at North Elementary School. The YOUTH Garden workshop includes a free lunch.

NorthElemFarmerMarket
North Elementary Students sell salad greens grown in school garden at local farmers market.

At the YOUTH Gardens workshop, student teams will learn how to prepare a business plan while growing garden greens in a hydroponic system. Student teams will practice setting up their own hydroponic garden systems at the workshop.  While growing lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs, students will explore how hydroponics agricultural practices conserve water and support year-round production. Student teams will get started on creating their business models with guidance from a WVU Extension entrepreneurship expert.

YOUTH Garden student teams will grow their hydroponic crops over the summer. As teams sell their produce, they’ll record their crop yields and sales. In the fall of 2017, student teams will come together again on the WVU campus to compare their hydroponic crop yields and business models.

The attached YOUTH_Garden_brochure provides more details about the June 21 workshop and includes a workshop registration form. Please complete the registration form in the brochure and email to North Elementary Principal, Natalie Webb.

Registration for the workshop is $25 per team, payable at the workshop. Teams may consist of 2 to 4 people, and must include an adult leader or a parent. Each team will receive a ready-to-set-up and use hydroponic kit, seeds, and materials to guide their agricultural business plan.

For questions and further information call North Elementary School at (304) 291-9280.