Students at Kimball Elementary School in Washington, D.C. assemble their new hydroponic growing system.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Hawthorne Gardening Company and National Farm to School Network Launch New Hydroponic School Garden Project

15 schools in California, New York City, and Washington, D.C. to participate in STEM curriculum-aligned hydroponic gardening


Because every student deserves the opportunity to experience the wonder of hands-on STEM education and hydroponic gardening, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Hawthorne Gardening Company and National Farm to School Network launched a new pilot project to integrate indoor growing systems into underserved schools across the country. The project aims to spark a passion for gardening and increase hands-on science experiences for students who otherwise might not have had the opportunity.

The pilot project will expand STEM gardening opportunities at 15 schools in California, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Each school will receive hydroponic growing systems from Hawthorne Gardening Company, one-on-one support and technical assistance from garden experts, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. To help failure-proof the project and make it easier for teachers to incorporate into the classroom, ScottsMiracle-Gro, Hawthorne and National Farm to School Network developed a one-of-its-kind hydroponic curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. The hydroponic systems and curriculum will be implemented in schools during the 2019-2020 school year.

“Every school should have the opportunity to experience the benefits of hydroponic gardening,” said Chris Hagedorn, senior vice president and general manager of Hawthorne Gardening Company. “Hydroponics enables students to have hands-on learning opportunities within arms’ reach inside of their classroom. We want more students to have access to this incredible and fascinating way to grow.”

“Hydroponic gardens offer an exciting and innovative way for more schools to make gardening opportunities available to their students. Hydroponics allow students to grow fresh produce year-round, can be set up directly in the classroom, and can be made accessible to students of all abilities,” said Lacy Stephens, Program Manager with the National Farm to School Network. “We’re excited to see these growing systems and the accompanying curriculum in action this school year, and we look forward to sharing out the schools’ successes and impacts for the wider farm to school community to learn from.”

The schools participating in the pilot project include:  

  • Sunrise Middle School, San Jose, CA
  • San Pedro Elementary School, San Rafael, CA
  • Ewing Elementary School, Fresno, CA
  • Lu Sutton Elementary School, Novato, CA
  • Hamilton K-8 School, Novato, CA
  • J.O. Wilson Elementary School, Washington DC
  • Kimball Elementary School, Washington DC
  • Tubman Elementary School, Washington DC
  • Amidon-Bowen Elementary School, Washington DC
  • Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School, Washington DC
  • P.S. 134 George F. Bristow, Bronx, NY
  • P.S. 214 The Lorraine Hansberry Academy, Bronx, NY
  • Urban Scholars Community School, Bronx, NY
  • P.S. 55 Benjamin Franklin, Bronx, NY
  • P.S. 32 The Belmont School, Bronx, NY


This pilot project is part of ScottsMiracle-Gro’s larger Gro More Good initiative, which aims to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces to 10 million children over the next five years. As part of Gro More Good, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is partnering with leading not-for-profit organizations, such as National Farm to School Network, to help overcome some of the pressing challenges facing today’s youth––including childhood obesity, poor nutrition and nature deficit––by improving children’s access to fresh food and increasing their time spent connected to nature.

For more information on the Gro More Good initiative, visit www.GroMoreGood.org.

Read the full release and find more stories about this pilot project here.