Partner Highlight: Bellevue School District Students Showcase Sustainability with Interactive Harvest Event

On March 5, students at Interlake High School in the Bellevue School District showcased their commitment to sustainability and food security through an interactive harvest event. This unique event highlighted the fresh greens grown on-site using Fork Farms' innovative hydroponic Flex Farms.

Students in Interlake High School's Environmental Sustainability class have been maintaining 13 Flex Farms, hydroponic systems that grow a variety of lettuces and herbs, including green leaf, butter, romaine, red leaf, basil, thyme, and cilantro. Hydroponics, a method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil, allows students to cultivate fresh produce year-round while gaining hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture.

Throughout the school year, these students have learned to monitor pH levels, manage nutrients, and analyze crop cycles. This hands-on learning approach empowers students to tackle real-world challenges, think critically, and develop innovative solutions.

Harvest Day Highlights

The March 5 event was a tremendous success. Students harvested an impressive 45 pounds of romaine lettuce, which was shared with the entire school during lunch. Special guests, including Mary Snapp, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Microsoft and Chair of The National FFA Organization, and Bellevue City Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis, attended to celebrate the students' achievements.

Visitors from Onalaska School District and Renton School District also joined the event to observe how hydroponic systems are transforming school nutrition. Inspired by their success, Interlake students are already planning to expand their crop variety to include strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, and more in the upcoming school year. Fresh foods can be grown year round in a hydroponic system, and Spring is a great time to grow hydroponically as it can mimic traditional outdoor growing.

Interlake High School's long-term goal is to use Flex Farms to grow all the fresh lettuce required for their cafeteria. By the 2025-2026 school year, they plan to add 12 additional Flex Farms and several Flex Acres to extend fresh produce to Sherwood Forest Elementary and Highland Middle Schools. This ambitious expansion could yield approximately 31,000 pounds of fresh greens annually for all 27 schools in the Bellevue School District and the surrounding community.

Why It Matters

The Bellevue School District's hydroponic initiative addresses food insecurity and provides students with practical knowledge in agriculture, sustainability, and STEM fields. Each Flex Farm can grow 25 pounds of lettuce every 28 days within a compact footprint, making it a scalable and efficient solution for fresh food production.

By integrating hydroponics into the curriculum, Interlake High School is fostering the next generation of problem-solvers equipped to tackle global challenges in food security and environmental sustainability. The March 5 harvest event exemplified how innovative solutions can make a lasting impact on schools and communities alike.

At Fork Farms, we are proud to support educational initiatives like these, which empower students to grow fresh food while they learn critical skills for a sustainable future.

To find out how a Flex Farm can be part of your school’s science classes and cafeteria line, please reach out to Fork Farms. 

Photo credit Jared Holan, Fork Farms.