Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Hydroponics at Kingsborough Community College: Project Summary1) Project Title: Hydroponics at Kingsborough Community College of CUNY2) AFRI Farm Bill Priority area: agriculture systems and technology; food safety, nutrition and health;3) Project Duration: 24 months4) Project Directors:Christine Zagari-LoPorto, Assistant Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development; Shannon Caravello, DrPH, Adjunct Lecturer and Kingsborough CC Community Farm and Garden Administrator5) Submitting organization: Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York6) Other organizations: New York Sun Works7) Name or type of industry-accepted credential the project will generate or participants will achieve: Hydroponic Farming Microcredential8) Number of participants: 369) Locations at which the proposed activities will occur: Kingsborough Community College 2001 Oriental Boulevard Brooklyn, New York 11235Abstract:The goal of this project is the increase the ability of New Yorkers to enter the world of hydroponic farming, especially those who might otherwise have not known about the industry. Hydroponics farming uses water-based nutrients instead of soil to grow plants. Farms are traditionally indoors or in greenhouses and can vary in size from large commercial farms to growing small plants in a person's home.Hydroponics at KCC (H-KCC) has 4 unique, yet interrelated components:Creation of a hydroponics classroom on campus at Kingsborough Community College;The development of a hydroponic microcredential;Newly trained hydroponic instructors; andCreation of Hydroponics at KCC, a hydroponic workforce training program.To accomplish these goals, KCC will work with NY Sun Works, a NYC-based non-profit that provides hydroponic farm-classrooms and related Discovering Sustainability Science curriculum to K-12th grade public schools in New York City. Through their program, NY Sun Works engages students, teachers, and the school community about science, sustainability, and local food production - all while students grow and harvest fresh produce to share with their families and school community.During the pilot, the program's audience will be recent high school graduates who have expressed interest in the green economy and alternative farming methods, focusing on those who were in schools with hydroponic farms. Upon completion of the pilot, and after its evaluation, program staff will then recruit for two additional cohorts that are open to the wider public.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Project GoalsThe goal of this project is the increase the knowledge-base and capacity of New Yorkers to enter the world of hydroponic farming, especially those who might otherwise have not known about the industry. Hydroponics is a type of farming that uses water-based nutrients instead of soil to grow plants. Hydroponic farms are traditionally indoors or in greenhouses and can vary in size from large commercial farms to growing small plants in a person's home. This proposal is addressing the Agricultural Workforce Training at Community Colleges priority area, one that focuses on building and training a food and agricultural workforce that is knowledgeable, experienced and work-ready. Currently, NYC does not have any comprehensive hydroponic training programs that focus on workforce preparation and higher educational advancement.To accomplish these goals, KCC will work with NY Sun Works, a NYC-based non-profit that provides hydroponic farm-classrooms and related Discovering Sustainability Science curriculum to K-12th grade public schools in New York City. Through their program, NY Sun Works engages students, teachers, and the school community about science, sustainability, and local food production - all while students grow and harvest fresh produce to share with their families and school community.During the pilot, the program's audience will be recent high school graduates who have expressed interest in the green economy and alternative farming methods, focusing on those who were in schools with hydroponic farms. Upon completion of the pilot, and after its evaluation, program staff will then recruit for two additional cohorts that are open to the wider public.Hydroponics at KCC (H-KCC) has 4 unique, yet interrelated goalcomponents:1) Creation of a hydroponics classroom on campus at Kingsborough Community College;2) The development of a hydroponic microcredential;3) Newly trained hydroponic instructors; and4) Creation of Hydroponics at KCC, a hydroponic workforce training program.
Project Methods
MethodsThe efforts for this project consist of hydroponics lab development, formal classroom, and laboratory instruction, development of curriculum, microcredentialing, experiential learning opportunities, and workforce development.Lab creation and Program/Curriculum DevelopmentHydroponics at KCC will be managed by Christine Zagari-LoPorto, Assistant Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development. Dr. Shannon Caravello, a faculty member at Kingsborough Community College, and manager of the KCC Community Farm and Garden, has been selected to oversee the project. Dr. Caravello will be responsible for all components of the program including, but not limited to, the Learning Lab creation, personnel, curriculum development, public outreach, marketing, instruction and program sustainability. Creation of the LAB will be led by Sun Works with oversight from KCC's Department of Buildings and Grounds to ensure the lab is up to Department of Buildings codes and other matters related to student safety.The VP of Continuing Education & Workforce Development and VP of Finance and Administration will provide higher-level, institutional guidance in regards to the overall creation and administration of the lab. In Y1 New York Sun Works, as the contractor, will regularly meet with the PI and co-PI to construct the lab, provide guidance, and train KCC staff on using the hydroponics equipment. In Y2, they will provideadditional support for running the lab and additional staff training.Hydroponics at KCC stages:Stage 1: Construction of the Hydroponic Learning Lab (Sun Works, Ms. Zagari-LoPorto, Dr. Caravello, KCC's Buildings and Grounds)Stage 2: Train KCC staff to be proficient to teach hydroponic farming at KCC's Lab (Sun Works, Dr. Caravello).Stage 3: Curriculum and microcredential development (Sun Works, Dr. Caravello, industry partners)Stage 4: Program implementation: Dr. CaravelloHydroponics at KCC will initially be piloted for an audience of recent high school graduates, focusing on those who were in schools with hydroponic farms. Working with New York Sun Works, we will identify and recruit students from those select high schools. Upon completion of the pilot, and after its evaluation, H-KCC will then recruit for two additional cohorts that will be open to the general public.Courses in hydroponic science offer an innovative, forward-looking approach to preparing students for further study and careers in food & agricultural sciences education.The Hydroponic Farming Microcredential will prepare people for entry into the workforce. This new curriculum will set our students ahead of other job applicants, particularly those who have little training and experience. As a workforce training participant, students will also receive valuable job readiness assistance including resume and cover letter writing, job applications, mock interviewing, professionalism and office etiquette, and worker's rights and responsibilities. Students who complete this training will be prepared to enter jobs as entry-level hydroponic farmers.EvaluationThe Program Coordinator will develop a survey tool that will consist of pre and post-summativeLikert-scale quantitative questionnaires conducted via Qualtrics.Topics of the survey tool will include knowledge of hydroponics, hydroponic-industry careers, and overall program success. Formative assessment qualitative questions will ask students to provide feedback regarding the student experience as it relates to program instruction, the usefulness of material, and resources available to students. The surveys will also collect sociodemographic data to assess the student population. Students in each cohort will complete the pre- and post-surveys. Survey data will be processed and evaluated at the end of each cohort and combined in a final summary. This data collection will be under the supervision of the Kingsborough Community College Institutional Review Board.