• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Edible Learning Lab
  • Home
  • Start

    Essential Reading

    Program Overview

    The broad strokes of the Edible Learning Lab Program.

    Teachers Primer

    A guide to help teachers visualize their edible education program.

    Farmers Primer

    Learn how to turn your farm into an edible classroom.

    Organizations Primer

    Discover how you can bring edible education into your community.

    Grants & Funding

    There are numerous grants and funding sources to get you started.

    Equipment Recommendations

    Buy the same equipment we use in our flagship Lab.

    The Legal Stuff

    Privacy Policy

    Terms and Conditions

  • Lessons

    Advanced Lesson Search

    Beginner Lessons

    The Beginner Lessons form the foundation with a sound overview of the core concepts of food production.

    Intermediate Lessons

    The Intermediate Lessons allow students to experiment and prove the core concepts.

    Advanced Lessons

    The Advanced Lessons give students an opportunity to apply what they've learned in the previous levels.

    Lessons By Station

    Seed Starting Curriculum

    Soil Management Curriculum

    Vermiculture Curriculum

    Hydroponics Curriculum

    Composting Curriculum

    Water Management Curriculum

    Seed Saving Curriculum

    Teaching Kitchen Curriculum

  • Blog

    Our Top Posts

    What is a Food Desert?

    Gain insight into food deserts, the communities they impact, and how edible education may offer a solution.

    The Difference Between Rainwater and Tap Water

    Not all water is created equal especially when we're talking about the health and development of plants and people.

    Why Rain is Important

    Rain or the lack of an adequate supply can have profound effects on farming and the communities that rely on the harvest.

    Anatomy of a Seed

    It all begins with a seed and this article dives deep into the 5 primary parts of the seed that make it all possible.

Grow ANYWHERE!

Grow ANYWHERE!

Start Earlier and Finish Later
Lesson: 4.5
Level:
Intermediate
Station: Hydroponics
Format: Class Project
Rating:
Intermediate Lesson 4.5 Grow Anywhere

Lesson Overview

Hydroponics provides indoor growing capabilities at scale for year round production. That trumps many outdoor gardens in terms of full year production potential. In this lesson, students will calculate the increase in production.

Goals

  • Students will be able to describe the season extending merits of hydroponics.

Outcomes

Students will calculate the total production potential of the hydroponics system in order to determine the increase in yearly production potential of all systems, indoors and out.

Teach the Teacher

  • Urban Gardening Options for the Inspired Minimalist
  • 10 Places We’d Like to See a Hydroponic System
  • ZipGrow at the World’s Fair US Pavilion

Tools & Materials

  • Spreadsheet
  • SMART Board

Activity

Many Labs start with outdoor gardens. It’s cheap to start and land is often more available than indoor space. But outdoor soil-based agriculture is always at the mercy of the weather and natural forces.

Indoor hydroponics, on the other hand, is managed in a completely controlled environment. And what it affords farmers and Edible Labs is additional production potential and extended seasons.

Think of the possibilities for wholesale relationships with restaurants when you can start selling them specialty greens and herbs a month or two earlier and for an additional month or two in the fall.

Calculate the increase in production that your hydroponic system offers beyond that of the traditional summer growing season.

How many more plants? Additional pounds of harvest?

What’s the percentage increase in total production potential for all systems? What’s the financial impact?

Related Lessons

Give the Advanced lesson a try now that you’ve completed the Intermediate Lesson! Or revisit the Beginner Lesson as needed.

This lesson, and all other lessons on this website, are intended for use by teachers in the classroom. These lessons are protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution of lesson content, supporting materials, or digital creative is prohibited with written permission from Modern Steader LLC.

« Going Vertical » Less Is More

Primary Sidebar

Search All Lessons

Our Lessons are organized into three levels. With our Detailed Search, you can drill down to the Lessons you need most.

Filter by Lesson Number, format, keyword, or rating.

  • Search Beginner Lessons
  • Search Intermediate Lessons
  • Search Advanced Lessons

© 2022 Edible Learning Lab | Site by Vestor Logic