ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – After years works in the making, Ashwaubenon High School science teacher, Dan Albrent, tells WLUK he has found a way to bring gardening into the classroom.
“We’re providing all the lettuce and then from then on the tomatoes, and eventually make enough money to put on a green house to our school and to keep it going.”
Albrent wanted to develop a science curriculum to include science and landscape. His students will learn how to grow fruits and vegetables.
Students will also learn how to grow lettuce without soil, a process called hydroponics.
“When we go out in the courtyard and one kid goes ‘hey my lettuce is better than your lettuce’, that’s the kind of competition and pride that I want them to take with them.”
According to Albrent, students could produce about 300 heads of lettuce in 45 days. One way to make lettuce without soil is by using fish.
“Basically we have tanks on the side that will eventually cycle through our fish. Fish will produce the bacteria, the bacteria will be living inside the tube and inside some of the filters, breaking down fish waste. The plants will suck up those nutrients, clean out water a bit and then it’s a conserve system.”
Albrent started working on the school’s courtyard four years ago. The yard includes fruit trees, strawberries, native wild flowers, and a tomato jungle.
Albert plans to grow native trees and raise chickens in the near future. Currently, the courtyard has an unfinished chicken coop.
The science teacher said he comes up with the ideas and the students take over the projects.
The plan is to sell fresh produce to Ashwaubenon Food Service for a cheaper price, while making the school some profit.
