Leaf It to Us: The Grade 5 Tower Garden Experience

A lush, leafy aroma fills the halls of the Gates Middle School building—an unmistakable sign that it is harvest day for Graland’s fifth-grade students. Through the Tower Garden program, fifth graders cultivate more than just fresh produce. They grow knowledge, responsibility, and an understanding of sustainability and food equity.

The Tower Garden program begins in the second week of school as part of the fifth-grade science curriculum. Students start by planting seeds in a wool substrate, nurturing them on classroom windowsills for three to four weeks before transferring the seedlings into one of Graland’s seven hydroponic Tower Gardens located across campus. Throughout the year, they care for the towers by planting new seedlings, refilling water, and monitoring nutrient levels to keep the gardens thriving. The program initially launched with just one tower, but students quickly connected with the experience, and their enthusiasm helped it grow. Several years ago, a group of fifth graders, inspired by their time with the garden, created a presentation and successfully advocated to Head of School Josh Cobb to expand the initiative—an effort that led to the installation of the additional Tower Gardens students care for today.

“I knew firsthand how powerful this type of learning could be—giving students the opportunity to take ownership of something real, something that grows and changes right in front of them,” said Mrs. Meggan Dodge, Grade 5 math teacher, who introduced the Tower Garden program to Graland after seeing its impact at her previous school. “From the start, students were immediately invested. Over time, the program expanded, integrating science, math, and service learning into something much bigger than I had ever imagined.”

Throughout the growing process, fifth graders learn about hydroponic gardening by studying the tower system’s technology, tracking plant growth through data analysis, and taking responsibility for regular maintenance—refilling water, monitoring nutrient levels, and ensuring plants are thriving. Their enthusiasm is evident: students name their plants, check on them frequently, and even talk to them.

One of the most anticipated milestones is the harvest. Fifth graders take pride in labeling bags of freshly picked greens and celebrating their work with a large salad party. “The excitement on their faces when they taste what they’ve grown is incredible,” Mrs. Dodge said. “Many of them realize for the first time how different fresh, homegrown produce tastes compared to store-bought. I hear things like, ‘This is the best salad I’ve ever had!’ or ‘Why have I never eaten a salad before?’ and that moment of discovery is what makes this experience so special.”

Beyond the school walls, the Tower Garden program connects students to real-world agricultural and sustainability initiatives. As part of their studies, fifth graders visit several hydroponic and urban farming operations, including the Dahlia Center for Health and Well-Being, where they explore community-based growing spaces; CSU Spur’s rooftop hydroponics lab, which highlights large-scale systems and agricultural innovation; and Farm Box Foods, where students tour high-tech, climate-controlled farms built inside repurposed shipping containers. These experiences offer a broader perspective on how hydroponics can address food insecurity and provide fresh produce in urban areas, food deserts, and remote locations. Another highlight is a trip to Natural Grocers, where students learn about the farm-to-table journey and select ingredients for their salad party, deepening their understanding of nutrition and the food system as a whole.

The Tower Garden program forms the basis of the fifth-grade service learning curriculum, giving students a tangible way to explore issues of food access and community support. After learning about food deserts and the challenges some communities face in accessing fresh produce, fifth graders harvest and package the greens they’ve grown, then pass them along to the sixth-grade class.

In sixth grade, students build on this foundation by studying poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity in greater depth. As part of their service-learning work, they deliver the greens to the food pantry at Jewish Family Services (JFS), where they see firsthand how their efforts make a difference.

“It’s a powerful moment when students realize how valuable fresh produce is to families in need,” Grade 6 Teacher Jolene Collier said. “The JFS food bank always has boxed goods, but fresh greens are rare and deeply appreciated.”

This partnership shows students how classroom learning can lead to meaningful, real-world contributions—an essential part of Graland’s service learning mission.

Building on its success, the program has expanded to include Horizons Graland students, who will care for the Tower Gardens during the summer months. Before school lets out, Graland fifth graders will prepare the gardens and leave a welcome note introducing the project. Over the summer, Horizons students will maintain the gardens with guidance from Christi James, executive director of Horizons Graland and Graland’s head of service learning, and Elise de Geus, Horizons Graland program manager and a Lower School science teacher who maintains a Tower Garden in her classroom year-round.

As the Tower Garden program continues to thrive, Mrs. Dodge envisions even greater possibilities. “The evolution of this program has been incredible, and I’m excited about where it could go next,” she said. “We’re always finding new ways to integrate it into more areas of learning and service.”

By the end of the program, students walk away with more than just an appreciation for fresh food. They develop empathy, responsibility, and a sense of advocacy—understanding that nutritious food should be accessible to everyone. As they move through Middle School and beyond, they carry these lessons with them, becoming champions for equity, sustainability, and community support—one leafy green at a time.