Dove Science Academy students in Tulsa grow their own lunch, thanks to hydroponics

Most kids don’t rush to the salad bar—but at Dove Science Academy, they just might when they’ve grown it themselves.

Thanks to a federal grant, students are using hydroponic growing towers to raise lettuce and leafy greens right inside their classrooms.

It’s part of the USDA’s Farm to School Program, designed to connect students with agriculture and healthy eating.

“I knew it was going to be difficult to get them excited about lettuce,” said John Franklin, an administrator at Dove. “But as long as they’re growing it themselves, they have a sense of pride and attachment to it.”

Twenty hydroponic towers now line the school’s hallways—no soil required.

“This is our hydroponic system,” said eighth grader Flavio Macedo. “We use this to easily and sustainably grow our plants.”

The harvest ends up on students’ lunch trays—sometimes without warning.

“They didn’t really tell us,” said eighth grader Bri Satchell. “They just kind of started giving us salads.”

Still, Bri admits she’s been eating more greens this year than ever before.

Flavio knows it’s good for him—but he’s honest, salad isn’t his first choice

“Yeah, not all the time. I’m not gonna lie,” he said.

From Swiss chard to romaine, even the youngest students get involved in growing, whether or not they’re excited to eat it.

About the Grant Program

Dove Science Academy received a $45,730 grant from the USDA’s Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program—its first-ever federal funding of this kind. The initiative supports local food sourcing, school gardens, and hands-on agriculture education in schools across the U.S.

About the Budget Cuts

The USDA has canceled funding for the Farm to School Grant Program in its 2025 budget. That cut represents a $10 million loss for more than 150 farm-to-school projects nationwide, including Dove’s. The decision follows the elimination of $660 million from other local food programs.