What's Happening in Westlake, OH…

Fairview Park's elementary school children are learning about agriculture and sustainability by growing their own vegetables.

Kids at Gilles-Sweet Elementary have introduced “air gardens” in the school's cafeteria, which have been planted with produce such as strawberries, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

The Tower Gardens are aeroponic (meaning without soil) systems placed next to the floor-to-ceiling cafeteria windows at the school. Each tower is circular, and can hold up to 20 plants, which are watered automatically via a timer that pumps water from the base to the tower's top. From there, it drops down the inside onto the plants. The gardens were funded by a grant from the Fairview Park Education Foundation.

In addition to learning how things grow, students are working with the concept of urban farming. The cycle is completed by the use of compost bins, which are located throughout the cafeteria.

Older students are responsible for testing the pH levels in the gardens, while younger children keep an eye on the water levels in the towers' bases. Hill is using some of the romaine for the school's sandwich wraps and salads.

The school could work with a newsletter printing company to create a piece highlighting the gardens, and send it to parents to encourage them to support their children's interest in fresh vegetables and fruits.