Growing More Than Food: Celebrating the Success of Our SARE-Funded Tower Garden Initiative

At Project Roots, we believe that growing food is about more than harvests—it is about cultivating curiosity, confidence, and connection.

That belief was at the heart of our recently completed Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) project, which brought Tower Garden systems into school environments and provided students with hands-on opportunities to explore innovative agricultural practices.

We are proud to share that our project has successfully completed the SARE reporting process and has been approved through Montana State University, the Western SARE Regional Host Institution. This milestone represents months of planning, implementation, data collection, and collaboration with educators and students who helped bring this work to life.

Through this initiative, students had the opportunity to engage directly with soil-free growing methods, learn about food production systems, and participate in real-world agricultural experiences that connected science, nutrition, and sustainability.

Pima Elementary School: Growing Community Through Food

At Pima Elementary School, students successfully cultivated multiple crops through the Tower Garden system, including mixed greens and edible flowers. The project provided a unique opportunity for young learners to observe plant growth, understand the importance of water and nutrients, and experience the excitement of harvesting food they helped grow.

One of the most rewarding outcomes was seeing students share their harvests with teachers, classmates, and families. The Tower Garden became more than a classroom learning tool—it became a source of pride and connection throughout the school community. Students were excited not only to grow traditional produce, but also edible flowers, which sparked curiosity and conversations about the many ways plants can be used in food systems. By sharing what they grew, students experienced firsthand how agriculture can bring people together and create opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.

Although the 2025–2026 school year marked Pima Elementary's final year of operation, the impact of the project will continue beyond the school's closure. The educator who championed the Tower Garden initiative plans to take the system with her to her new school, ensuring that future students will benefit from hands-on agricultural learning opportunities. In addition, she has shared her experience with other educators, helping expand interest in Tower Garden projects. As a result, Project Roots is already planning the installation of an additional Tower Garden in another classroom this fall, extending the reach of the initiative and building on the relationships established through this work.

Photo Credit and Parental Permission: Pima Elementary School

Central High School: From Seed to Plate

At Central High School, students participated in herb production through the Tower Garden system and incorporated their harvests into culinary learning experiences. Central High was a natural partner for this project because it is home to the largest culinary program in the Phoenix Union High School District. By combining agricultural education with hands-on culinary training, students were able to experience the full journey from seed to plate.

Like many school-based garden projects, there were challenges along the way. Following our second site visit, the initiative experienced some setbacks as students and staff worked to maintain the system independently. However, their persistence paid off. By the end of the school year, students successfully produced herbs and vegetables that were harvested and used in culinary activities and end-of-year events.

For many students, this was the first opportunity to grow ingredients themselves and then use those same ingredients in a culinary setting. The experience demonstrated not only the effectiveness of the Tower Garden system, but also the dedication of the students and educators who remained committed to the project. Through this work, students gained a deeper understanding of sustainable food production, food preparation, and the important connection between agriculture and nutrition.

Central High student learning from Project Roots Co-Founder Dionne Washington about the vital role lighting plays in the success of an indoor garden.

Photo Credit and Parental Permission: Central High School

Project Roots Co-Founder Jessica Diamond works alongside Central High Culinary Arts Teacher Erin Sullivan and a student as they assemble the Tower Garden, preparing the foundation for hands-on indoor agriculture education.

Photo Credit and Parental Permission: Central High School

What We Learned

The educational outcomes of this project were just as meaningful as the harvests themselves. Student surveys demonstrated increased knowledge of controlled-environment agriculture and greater confidence in understanding how modern growing systems function. Participants reported increased excitement about agriculture, sustainability, and food production after participating in the project.

Perhaps most importantly, this project reinforced something we have long believed: when students are given opportunities to learn by doing, their engagement and understanding grow dramatically. Whether harvesting herbs, monitoring plant growth, sharing produce with their community, or preparing food they helped cultivate, students were able to see themselves as active participants in creating healthier food systems.

From Research to Expansion

While this SARE project focused on research, education, and evaluation, the lessons learned are already shaping the future of Project Roots' Growing Minds, Growing Gardens initiative.

Through Growing Minds, Growing Gardens, Project Roots partners with schools to bring Tower Garden systems into classrooms, giving students hands-on opportunities to explore agriculture, nutrition, sustainability, and STEM learning. The success of this project reinforced the value of experiential learning and demonstrated how innovative growing systems can engage students of all ages.

Thanks to continued community support and grant funding, Project Roots recently secured funding to install five additional Tower Gardens in schools. In the coming months, we will begin inviting schools to apply for participation in the next phase of the initiative. Selected schools will receive a Tower Garden system, training, and ongoing support designed to help educators successfully integrate indoor growing into their classrooms.

By building on what we learned through this SARE project, we hope to expand access to agricultural education, support educators, and inspire even more students to discover the connection between food, health, and sustainability.

We are excited to share more details about the upcoming application process and introduce the next group of schools that will join the Growing Minds, Growing Gardens initiative.

Gratitude and What's Next

This project would not have been possible without the support of Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (Western SARE) and Montana State University. Their investment in innovative agricultural education allowed Project Roots, educators, and students to explore new approaches to food production while creating meaningful learning experiences in the classroom.

We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this research project and contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding controlled-environment agriculture, school-based growing initiatives, and experiential learning.

As we continue expanding our Growing Minds, Growing Gardens initiative, we look forward to sharing the lessons learned through this project with educators, nonprofit leaders, school districts, and community partners. We believe the insights gained from this work can help other organizations successfully implement agricultural education projects that connect students to food, sustainability, and hands-on learning.

If you are organizing a conference, workshop, educator training, or community event focused on agriculture, food systems, education, sustainability, or youth engagement, we would welcome the opportunity to share our experience. Project Roots is available to present on the outcomes of this project, lessons learned, implementation strategies, and best practices for integrating Tower Garden systems into educational environments.

We also encourage educators and schools interested in bringing Tower Gardens into their classrooms to follow Project Roots for updates on our upcoming Growing Minds, Growing Gardens application cycle. With funding secured for five additional Tower Gardens, we look forward to welcoming a new cohort of schools and continuing to expand access to hands-on agricultural learning opportunities.

To learn more about our work, discuss speaking opportunities, or explore partnership possibilities, please contact Project Roots through our website.

Together, we are growing more than food—we are growing the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers.