Teens for Food Justice                                

Students at De Witt Clinton High School built and run a high-capacity indoor hydroponic farm, capable of growing 25,000 pounds of produce annually, thanks to a $126,870 donation from the Sun Club to Teens for Food Justice. In addition to the education provided through the youth-led nutrition and health outreach programming, the food will be served in the school’s cafeteria and distributed to surrounding high-needs communities. One hundred students are enrolled in curricular STEM programming using hydroponic farming and technology, mastering skills needed in a green workforce economy.

Hydroponic farming uses 96 percent less water per head of lettuce when compared to traditional agriculture methods and avoids the use of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.