10/26/2026
From Seed to Harvest: Inside the Inaugural Hydroponic Food Production Class 🥬✨
In response to a strong student request for hands-on experience in hydroponics, Dr. Stephanie Burnett, Professor of Horticulture, launched the brand-new PSE 405: Hydroponic Food Production course this semester!
From commercial, large-farm setups to home units and scaled-down industrial models, students were matched with different growing systems based on their preferences and course goals.
Hydroponics allows plants to thrive using significantly less water and fewer resources than traditional farming, relying on precise nutrient solutions to balance pH levels.
The learning goes beyond standard crop management and exposure to hydroponic systems. Students across Sustainable Agriculture program undergraduate and graduate-level tracks are actively participating in interdisciplinary research to gain feedback on new growing methods. Partnering with the engineering school, the class is field-testing an innovative, eco-friendly “net cup” crafted from sustainable wood fibers. By comparing these biodegradable cups against traditional commercial plastic versions, students are helping gain insight into the next generation of zero-waste hydroponic infrastructure.
As these students cultivate both fresh produce and sustainable solutions, they are building the future of farming!
A special shout out to the engineering colleagues helping with this research: Caitlin Howell, Ankit Singh, Madison Striegel, and Brynn Lily.
Let’s look at the different growing systems! Here’s the Deep Water Culture (DWC), which is a low-tech, commercial-style “pond” setup for leafy greens, aerated with a nutrient solution.
Here’s the 3D-Printed Vertical Gardens, which are DIY, multi-colored towers engineered by PhD student Jacob Schwab to test how system color impacts water temperature and insect visitation.
More of the 3D-Printed Vertical Gardens, which are DIY, multi-colored towers engineered by PhD student Jacob Schwab to test how system color impacts water temperature and insect visitation.
Want to try this at home? Here’s the AeroGardens, a small-scale, plug-and-play tabletop system donated by Scotts Mira
