Students in Shoreham-Wading River High School’s Long Island Sustainability class and science teacher Mr. Kevin Nohejl visited Wading River School recently to share their knowledge on hydroponics with fifth grade students.

Paul Ganci and Karla Roberts’ students welcomed Michael Clemente, Kaylee Colantropo, Jake Heins, Robert Portelli, Noah Ricciardi, Cole Wetzel and Jarrell Winston to their classrooms where they had pre-grown seedlings of cucumbers, lettuce, peas, spinach and tomatoes ready to place in the classroom vertical grow towers.

The older students highlighted some of the differences between hydroponics and traditional farming and important criteria between the two including efficiency and yield, environmental impact, seasonal dependency, and water and resource usage. The younger students then helped to take their seedlings and transplant them into the grow towers.

The cross-grade collaboration was an opportunity for students to develop literacy, social skills and confidence and to highlight the high school course that teaches students about sustainable practices, local farming heritage and career paths in agriculture.

Date Added: 3/4/2025