By Andy and Chris
Welcome to the Rolling Vertical Farm (RVF) project for 2026. The farm is located at the Level 2 Courtyard in B Block, Kelvin Grove Campus, QUT. It is funded by the School of Education, CIESJ Faculty to run in 2026 as a teaching and learning resource for STEM education. The farm is a joint venture by School of Education and the industry partner Australian Urban Growers. This 2026 project is built on prior experience in the 2024-2025 Trials. Please contact us if any inquiries.
!! Volunteers needed !!
---------- We need your help! -----------
The farm is designed to be sustainable with automations to minimise the maintenance. However, we still need help in
monitoring, planting, harvesting, researching and design improvising.
We welcome pre-service teachers and any QUT staff/students to help and learn together with us in this project.
Please Contact Us if you could lend a hand. 👍
We utilised this Padlet to record the growth of plants on a weekly basis. If you pass by the farm, you can see a QR code to access this padlet. Please help take photos (or videos) and report any issues/comments any time to this padlet when you visit the farm.
We planned a planting schedule at the beginning of the year, but later figured out that the planted vegetables do not behave as predicted due to their requirements of environmental conditions, the functioning of the farm (e.g., the pumping of water supply) and the reality of environment (e.g., extreme climate, pests/birds influence), so the planting time became dynamic when the time/situation suit. The types of vegetables to plant become the focus. Currently, two types of lettuce and one type of basil are planted.
Oakleaf Lettuce is a popular loose-leaf variety named for its deeply lobed leaves that closely resemble the foliage of an oak tree. It is prized by gardeners and chefs for its incredibly tender, buttery texture and mild, slightly nutty flavor that doesn't become bitter as easily as other lettuces. Because it is a "cut-and-come-again" variety, you can harvest individual outer leaves while the center continues to grow, making it exceptionally productive for small-scale hydroponic setups.
Red Coral Lettuce, also known as Lollo Rossa, is a striking loose-leaf variety easily recognized by its fan-shaped, intensely curled leaves with vibrant magenta or deep burgundy edges. Beyond its decorative appeal, it offers a crisp, tender texture and a mild, slightly nutty flavor that adds both volume and a splash of color to gourmet salads. Its open-growth habit makes it particularly well-suited for hydroponic towers, as it allows for excellent airflow around the ruffled leaves, helping to prevent moisture-related issues while it matures.
This Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum), specifically a variety like Genovese, is a classic culinary herb prized for its large, glossy, and slightly cupped bright-green leaves. It is famous for its rich, clove-like aroma and sweet, peppery flavor profile, making it the essential ingredient for traditional Italian pesto and Caprese salads. Because of its fast growth and high moisture needs, it thrives in vertical hydroponic systems like the one pictured, though it requires consistent nutrient monitoring to maintain its vibrant green color and lush foliage.
The harvesting and planting have become quite dynamic when needed.
When it comes to harvesting, there will be more investigations needed:
When is it ready to harvest?
How to harvest?
How to prepare for eating? (must wash in clean water, there will be dusts and maybe some environmental pollution around)
Are there any pests? What chemical nutrients are there? Are they safe to eat?
The Rolling Vertical Farm was initiated for the teaching and learning in STEM units, and it is also informed and inspired by the STEM education research regarding Schools and STEM industry partnerships.
The RVF is currently utilised in S1 2026 in:
EUB452
EUB307
and will be utilised in S2 2026 in:
EUB170 - Mathematics group
EUN630
EUN210 - Technologies group
EUN637
Research projects are being initiated/developed in areas:
How pre-service teachers might develop integrated STEM education programs from the RVF and the Weather Station.
School-industry partnerships in the context of integrated STEM education
Design and implementation of vertical farming in schools
In the context of school-industry partnership, the design and implementation of vertical farming should be a well coordinated and collaborated effort and committment between the school and industry. This relies on the shared goals, knowledge and skills, and resources.
School
Industry