A new way to connect students to healthy eating habits 

YES Prep Southside Elementary students are learning about healthy food while actively growing it, harvesting it and trying it for the first time. 

This spring, YES Prep Public Schools introduced hydroponic gardens at Southside Elementary and Hobby Secondary as part of a new effort led by the Child Nutrition team. The initiative gives students direct access to fresh ingredients while creating hands-on learning experiences tied to nutrition, sustainability, and food systems. 

The launch comes as schools across the country look for new ways to connect students to the source of their food.  At YES Prep, that work is already taking root. 

From conference idea to campus reality 

The idea began at a professional conference, where Child Nutrition leaders explored innovative ways to promote fresh food in schools. After learning more about hydroponic systems, the team brought the concept back to YES Prep to pilot the first units in a couple of our campuses. 

The initiative is led by Dr. Jessica Howell, director of YES Prep’s child nutrition program, who saw an opportunity to expand how students experience food beyond the cafeteria. 

“This is something we want to grow,” said Mariel Almazan, YES Prep child nutrition coordinator. “The goal is to expand into more elementary schools and continue growing from there.” 

 

How the gardens work 

Each hydroponic system can grow about 30 plants at a time using a water-based process that delivers nutrients directly to the roots. The systems do not use soil, allowing plants to grow efficiently in a controlled environment. 

Child Nutrition staff monitor the gardens through a shared app that tracks plant growth, sends alerts when it is time to harvest, and provides guidance on maintenance. Plants begin in a nursery stage before moving into the system, where they can be ready for trimming or harvesting in about two weeks. 

Because of the fast growth cycle, the gardens offer a consistent way to produce fresh ingredients on campus. 

What students are growing and experiencing 

Students and staff are currently growing multiple types of lettuce and spinach, along with kale, cilantro and strawberries. Additional crops, including broccoli, sweet peppers, and flowers are expected to be added in the coming weeks. 

At Southside Elementary, the gardens are already part of the student experience. Students in cooking classes help care for the plants and use harvested ingredients to prepare meals. 

For many students, like Aiden, it is their first time trying these foods fresh. 

Aiden, a second-grade student at Southside Elementary, said the experience has helped him see food in a new way. 

“It’s healthy,” Aiden said. “They get the right water and nutrients to grow.” 

Students gather around the garden to observe, harvest and taste what they have helped grow, often showing excitement and curiosity as they try new vegetables. 

 

Supporting student learning and future meals 

Beyond food production, the gardens are designed to support student learning. Students are building an understanding of how plants grow, the role of nutrients, and the care it takes to keep something alive. 

At this time, the produce is used during in-classroom cooking activities and student tastings. It is not yet part of school meal menus. 

The long-term goal is to change that. 

“We want to be able to use what we grow,” said Almazan. “As we continue expanding and as more campuses have the right kitchen setup, this could become part of what students are eating every day.” 

At elementary campuses with updated kitchens, staff can prepare fresh items on site, creating a path for the gardens to eventually support meal programs. 

Growing toward Earth Day and beyond 

As Earth Day highlights the importance of sustainability and environmental awareness, the hydroponic gardens offer students a hands-on way to explore those ideas. 

The systems use water efficiently and demonstrate new ways of growing food, helping students understand how innovation can support both health and the environment. 

At YES Prep, the goal is not just to introduce fresh food, but to help students build a lasting connection to it. 

As the program expands across more elementary schools, more students will have the opportunity to see that connection from seed to harvest to the meals they help create. 

 

View more photos of our hydroponic garden at Southside Elementary here.