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Story by: Monica Obradovic
UNIVERSITY CITY — University City High School’s growing agriculture program just grew some more.
A shipping container fitted for hydroponics farming arrived at the school this week, bringing with it the potential for students to learn farming first-hand and grow their own food for lunch periods and businesses.
“They’ll get to see firsthand how food is produced, starting from seed up to actual harvesting,” said Pamela Lester, the teacher heading University City High’s Agriculture and Sustainability Program.
The high school added an agriculture class during the 2023-2024 school year and saw a quick and rising interest from students.
The class started with four students and ended the year with 20. Now the high school has a whole agriculture program, with 100 students signed up for courses this upcoming school year, Mike Peoples, the school’s principal, said.
“We’re very proud to be able to deliver this to them,” Peoples said.
University City High is the first school in the St. Louis area to have a hydroponic farm and state-approved career and technical education program in agriculture, school officials said. The district plans to hire another teacher and add more classes to accommodate the interest.
A crane lifted the hydroponics container off a truck and positioned it between the high school and its natatorium Wednesday afternoon.
The container will function as an outdoor classroom, where students will grow anything from lettuce to herbs. It can yield the equivalent of three acres of crops while operating on just five gallons of water and 180 kilowatts of electricity.
“We’re going to be growing some cool things and selling produce around the school and having produce in our school as well,” rising senior Rakeira Wallace said. “We don’t really have much salads. It’ll be nice to know I grew the salad that I’m eating.”
The container will cost the district about $500,000. The cost was largely offset by grants, but the district also tapped into funds from a 2024 bond issue.
The district purchased the container from Cool Valley-based Fresh Harvest 365. The sustainable farming company specializes in container farming and will provide labor for the container’s first 18 months at University City High.