by Katie Vasquez
Students at St. Ephrem Catholic Academy get to see science in action. Getting their hands dirty but not with actual dirt.
“I didn’t think that was possible, I always thought you had to put it in soil,” Amelia McKinney, a student at St. Ephrem said.
Hydroponics involves growing plants using water rather than soil.
“They put something in a little rock wool and then the next day they got food out of it,” Lynda Di Palma, the science teacher at the school said..
The Brooklyn school started the lab in September, after receiving a $20,000 grant. Principal Michael Phillips says they are one of only a few in the diocese to have this space.
“It really differentiates us in the grand scheme of things to show that we are thinking outside the box,” Phillips said.
The students are growing kidney beans, tomatoes, arugula, butter lettuce and blueberries. Their hard work is finally producing some results.
“It’s been fun planting the seeds, putting all the plants, watering them. Finally seeing roots and all that,” Gianna Solitario, a student at St. Ephrem’s said.
This lab is more than just plants, it’s learning about God’s most precious gift, life.
“I want to give them the opportunity to not only learn science but learn it in a hands-on approach but also with real life experiences,” Phillips said.
If their crop yields a hearty harvest, the school hopes to donate the food to the community or offer a farmer’s market for parents.