{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"GREEN OUR PLANET: GROW Together","title":"Growing Food, Growing Opportunity: How Hydroponics Is Transforming Schools and Communities","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2018,"description":"In this episode of GREEN OUR PLANET: GROW Together, host Ciara Byrne welcomes Michael Hostad, Executive Vice President of Impact Partnerships at Fork Farms, and Dr. Mark Hansen, Superintendent of Elmbrook School District, to explore how hydroponics can grow from a classroom learning tool into a powerful system for nutrition, STEM education, student engagement, and community impact. Dr. Hansen shares how Elmbrook has expanded its hydroponics program to produce thousands of pounds of lettuce each year, with approximately 30% of its lettuce now produced locally.\nCiara, Michael, and Dr. Hansen discuss what it takes to scale hydroponics across a district, from creative funding and repurposing facilities to connecting food service with hands-on learning. They also look ahead to the Green Our Planet Giant Student Farmers Market in partnership with Fork Farms in Green Bay, where students will turn what they grow into entrepreneurial experiences. Together, they share a bigger vision for reducing food miles, expanding access to fresh food, and giving students opportunities to solve real-world problems while reconnecting with the planet.\nKey Moments\n01:01 'Scaling Hydroponics for School Nutrition'\n02:39 'Turning Hydroponics Into Hands-On Learning'\n03:48 'Community Funding for Farm Expansion'\n05:45 'Growing Food and Student Entrepreneurship'\n09:19 'From Classroom STEM to Cafeteria Impact'\n11:12 'Building Skills Through Harvest and Distribution'\n12:25 'Bringing the Giant Student Farmers Market to Wisconsin'\n15:43 'Removing the Glass Ceiling on Student Potential'\n19:12 'Making Kids' Dreams Come True'\n24:36 'Reimagining How We Grow and Move Food'\n26:53 'The Vision for 100% Locally Sourced School Food'\n32:13 'Reconnecting People With the Planet'\nWhy You Will Love This Episode\nA practical and inspiring look at what becomes possible when schools connect hydroponics with nutrition, STEM, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning. Michael and Dr. Hansen show how strong...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Mm5Ziu847Kx8NlT_fwQMbppCo_z7qV-Qe6yhphFK7YQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jMjgw/NGYzOTk1MDZiN2Nl/NDVmODVhOWY2NDA5/Y2IwMC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}