GOGREEN

Gardens at ACHS

TOWER GARDENS

The prototype for these vertical, aeroponic Tower Gardens was developed by NASA engineers trying to figure out the best way to grow food on the International Space Station.


CLICK HERE: How Does a Tower Garden Work?


Fun Facts:

  • ACHS is the home of 12 Tower Gardens.

  • Each tower can grow 28 plants.

  • One tower takes up only 6.25 square feet of space.

  • Only 10% of water used compared to traditional irrigation methods

  • 3x faster growth

  • Chemical-free gardening

  • Can be grown indoors during winter months with the addition of grow lights

SOLAR POWER

A small electric pump in the base of each Tower Garden is used to irrigate the plants. Even though they only use as much electricity as a 60 watt ligth bulb, we wanted to make the most sustainable choice for the energy source. The Electrical Trades class at ACHS built the solar panels and battery system that provides the electricity to all of our towers. This project provided these students with future Green Job experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statisitics projects a 105% increase in solar panel installers; these students will be career ready.


POLLINATOR GARDENS

Our pollinator garden is comprised of native plants and pollinator-friendly flowers. This space will provide pollinators with a habitat that is protected from pesticide use and will help increase our campus biodiversity. See a flower you're curious about? Check out our Plant ID badges! As an added bonus, the garden bed is made of recycled bricks that were hand-laid by the Masonry students at ACHS.


DRIP IRRIGATION

Like all living things, the plants in our pollinator gardens will need water to grow and survive. In order to irrigate our plants, we want to use the most sustainable irrigation method possible. Drip irrigation uses 80% less water, contributes to less topsoil runoff, and lessens the impact of erosion. Due to the targeted placement and the reduced amount of water, we are decreasing powerdy mildew and other diseases. Also, weeds will be water-starved, so we will be less reliant on the use of chemical herbicides to control them.



COMPOST

At the end of our indoor Tower Garden growing season, we conducted our final harvest and cleaned out all organic matter from the towers. The leftover organic matter was collected and used to start our first batch of compost. Over the next few months, this material will be broken down and turned into humus, a nutrient filled material that reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. This material will be our free layer of top soil in next year's pollinator garden. Composting organic matter not only saves us money, but it also keeps organic material out of landfills and reduces methane production and leaching.


LIVING ROOF

The garden shed that holds all of our supplies and all of the temperature sensitive electrical equipment was built by the Core and Sustainable Construction classes at ACHS. The roof was specially designed to hold and grow living material and function as a "green roof." A green roof is a desirable option beacuse of the insulating properties.

    • Reduce cool air loss by 70-90%

    • Reduce heat flux by up to 72%.

Green roofs also capture air pollution, filters toxic gases, and reduces stormwater runoff. Did you know that 2 inches of plant growth can hold 4 inches of water?


OUTDOOR LEARNING

The idea for the GoGreen Gardens at ACHS was born during the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. It was such a stressful and unknown time for all of us, but the one thing we knew is that our students needed a safe place to learn. We were forced think outside of the classroom and granted the funds to make our vision a reality. Every aspect of this cross-cirricular project has been student-led; it has impacted students in multiple classes, in multiple diciplines. We figured out a way to not only safely teach our students, but also offer them a unique, hands-on learning experience that benefits them academically, physically, and emotionally.