With these funds I will facilitate my students' Green Schools research project. 

Instead of merely researching a project and using technology to present our findings, we have chosen to make our research relevant.  My Matrix team language arts class will be building a hydroponic system in the cafeteria.  We are already partnering with Lincoln University professors who are helping us grow worms in order to use their castings to make compost tea, which will in turn feed our lettuce plants.  The system will utilize light from outside as well as the lights in the cafeteria.

Students who aren't involved with the project would still benefit and learn from it.  My students are designing an interactive "science museum-like" display to teach students about all the steps of the process and how to grow their own food at home. Some groups will be designing infographics to post with the unit, and a magazine with tips and tricks for growing your own food at home will be created as well.  All of this fits perfectly within the districts ELA plans for Units 2 and 3.  

If our system works as we believe it will, we will be able to grow more and different crops.  

I personally have already invested $82 on a worm collection bin and will be purchasing worms tomorrow for $29.95 (they're on sale!)  I would love to be reimbursed, but I believe in the project and the students running it either way. Lincoln University is also generously offering us the use of their Worm Wigwam (a $660 item) to help us with our project.

Once our worms are producing compost, we will be creating compost tea for our hydroponic system.  

We will need at least the following resources:

• PVC pipe
• various hardware pieces and fittings
• pH meter
• sand bags
• collection barrels
• solar pump with panel
• dechlorinator (the one we'd like is a filter for a hose instead of chemicals)
• framing to hold the hydroponic system up
• rock wool
• lettuce seeds
• aerators
• net baskets
• food collection buckets
• trays for germinating the lettuce
• bags to hold compost/castings 
• a chromebook or tablet dedicated to the project to run our interactive display (a want more than a need, but having our own computer would be best for our presentations and display)

Though we will have a start up costs, it is our desire to create a lasting system.  Our school generates so much paper and food waste that would serve as worm bedding and food.  Even the coffee grounds each morning are perfect for worms!

Students will be practicing not only research, presentation skills, and collaboration though language arts, but we will be collecting and reacting to data using scientific methods.  They have already started partnering with our community through Lincoln University, and I know as this projects grows, the students will be reaching out to others. 

Dr. Ben Zimmerman was contacted by one of our students last week, and he spoke to us today so we would be ready for our worms.  He is returning on Wednesday to help up set up and show us a sample hydroponic system.  

In fact, a student set up this account for me, and groups of them have been gathering our needed resources.  By using solar power and feeding the worms and ultimately our lettuce from our own food wastes, we will not be incurring future costs, but still be reaping the benefits.  

Students will also be presenting to classes during Advisory to teach students about the worms and what they like to eat since students will be scraping food waste into special buckets for our worm culture. 

I hope that I will not be the only one funding this project, but if I need to, I will find a way.  The students are invested and believe in its possibilities.  We have signed up to work two home games and run the concession stand to help meet our goal.  Please consider the value not only for my students, but for the school as well.  

I believe our system will not only work, but it will inspire future systems.  I would personally love to see our school generate enough produce to send home fresh vegetables in our buddy packs.  Imagine!

Although students have found items that fit our needs, I do not feel I can say with certainty that THIS particular dechlorinator is best yet, or this is the kind of framing we need.  Our project just started last week, and the deadline was today for submission. However, as I mentioned, Randy and Ben from Lincoln will be coming on Wednesday to help the students with these and other questions.  Please do not let our lack of specificity at this time discourage you; we are capable of great work.

Thank you so much for considering our project.  You'll be glad you invested in us.  

Back Up Plan