East Rockaway High School science research students traded their textbooks for trowels on Jan.30, visiting Scholars Academy in Far Rockaway to experience a working hydroponics farm firsthand.

The field trip, organized by ERHS Science Chairperson Jennifer Belfiore, emerged from her students' growing interest in plant cultivation and hydroponics systems. I wanted them to see how this technology addresses real-world challenges, Belfiore explained.

At Scholars Academy, students didn't just observe – they rolled up their sleeves. They seeded, transplanted and harvested crops including sweet basil, curly kale and romaine lettuce. Beyond the hands-on farming, they explored the technology behind large-scale hydroponics operations, learning to monitor nutrient levels in the water systems that feed the plants.

The experience connected classroom learning to pressing community needs. With food security concerns affecting communities across the region, students gained insight into how technology can help address nutrition gaps and provide fresh produce year-round, regardless of season or traditional growing conditions.

The Scholars Academy farm operates as part of Teens for Food Justice, a program that guides students in managing hydroponic farms within their schools. These farms grow fresh produce for school cafeterias and local communities while students engage with curriculum covering food justice, nutrition, health, STEM and advocacy. Since its founding in 2023, the Scholars Academy farm has produced 9,000 pounds of food annually.

The visit left ERHS students with more than agricultural knowledge – they departed with a clearer understanding of how innovation can solve real-world problems in their own backyards.

Click here to learn more about Teens for Food Justice.