Eco-friendly Hydroponic Garden Thrives
Alesco Northlakes were lucky recipients of one of the Lake Macquarie Councils Community Environment Grants this year. Our school used these funds to purchase and install a commercial-grade Hydroponic Farm. The set-up includes 30 plant tower systems, holding 840 different plants at any given time. Having the eco-garden set up at the school allows our students to learn about the many benefits of Hydroponic Farming including an increase in plant yield, reduced water consumption, reduction in pests and diseases; all of which creates fresh organic produce for our students.
Longer-term, our school hopes to grow produce from seedlings in our 鈥榥ursery鈥�, and produce fresh produce to help support our families and the local community.
Alesco has allocated one lesson per week for our students to work in and maintain our Hydroponic Gardens. Our students will be researching and learning the benefits of hydro farming, planning what we will grow in the gardens, and maintaining the crops as they grow.
As part of reducing the running costs of this project and minimising our environmental footprint, Alesco Northlakes purchased a rainwater tank after receiving a grant from Hunter Water. This has enabled our garden to be eco-friendly and contributed to our overall school goal of reducing our impact on the local environment. This tank allows for water and wastewater efficiency improvement, protects and enhances the environment AND is an education initiative with a focus on water and wastewater.
A huge THANKS to and !
