Rozic Announces Funding for John Bowne High School’s Hydroponics Program (Photo Courtesy of Rozic)
June 18, 2019 By Shane O’Brien
Assemblywoman Nily Rozic has secured $35,500 in funding for John Bowne High School in Flushing.
The funding has been allocated for the school’s hydroponics program, which is an alternative method of growing plants without soil by using water-based nutrient solutions.
John Bowne is the only high school in New York City with a four-acre farm and its agricultural program is a central feature of the school. It provides students with a work-based learning approach which prepares them for admission into agricultural and technical colleges.
The use of hydroponics in John Bowne’s agricultural program has been recognized nationally for its urban agricultural educational offerings.
“John Bowne’s agriculture program provides students with learning opportunities and internships paving the way for their future careers as veterinarians, laboratory technicians, urban farmers, landscape architects, and much more,” Rozic said.
Hydroponics and aquaponics are an important part of sustainable agriculture, Rozic said.
Steven Perry, the school’s assistant principal, said that the funding will provide students with hands-on instruction in hydroponics and crop production.
“This instructional exposure could easily lead to some students going on for further study in this field as well as immediate employment in the many urban and rural operations currently in production,” Perry said.
