Key Takeaways
- NY Sun Works and Jones Valley Teaching Farm celebrated the opening of hydroponic classrooms at eight Birmingham City Schools on September 9, 2025.
- The initiative provides students with hands-on STEM education, food-based learning, and access to thousands of pounds of fresh produce annually.
- Each classroom features advanced hydroponic systems, including towers, vine crops, and composting stations.
- The program is designed to address food insecurity, improve attendance, and prepare students for future careers in agriculture and technology.
- Seed funding from the City of Birmingham and Birmingham City Schools supported construction, training, and curriculum development.
NY Sun Works Brings Hydroponics to Birmingham
NY Sun Works, a nonprofit known for integrating sustainability science into classrooms, partnered with Jones Valley Teaching Farm and Birmingham City Schools to bring hydroponic farming into the district. The program was launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bush Hills STEAM Academy.
With more than 15 years of experience and over 370 hydroponic classrooms already built in New York City, NY Sun Works brings a proven model to Birmingham, where students will now grow leafy greens, herbs, and vegetables seed-to-harvest using just water and nutrients.
NY Sun Works: Benefits for Students and Community
The hydroponic initiative is expected to deliver wide-reaching benefits for students and local residents:
- Food Security: Collectively, the eight classrooms and greenhouses will produce up to 4,000 pounds of fresh produce annually, helping address food insecurity in Birmingham.
- Student Attendance: Hands-on, project-based learning has been shown to reduce absenteeism, a priority for the district.
- STEM Pathways: Students will gain exposure to career and technical education in agriculture, sustainability, and green technologies.
“This initiative will provide students with year-round interactive learning experiences in sustainable agriculture, while also fostering a deep understanding and curiosity of STEM principles,” said Manuela Zamora, Executive Director of NY Sun Works.
Schools and Local Impact
The eight participating schools include Jackson-Olin High School, Bush Hills STEAM Academy, Green Acres Middle School, South Hampton K-8, Central Park Elementary, Charles A. Brown Elementary, Minor Elementary, and Wylam Elementary.
“Expanding food-based programming through hydroponics allows 3,700 additional students to experience this type of education while doubling paid work-based learning opportunities,” said Dr. Mark Sullivan, Superintendent of Birmingham City Schools.
Strong Community Support
Local leaders praised the initiative’s potential. Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said: “This investment represents more than new technology in our classrooms — it represents hope, opportunity, and a vision for what education can be.”
Council President Darrell O’Quinn added: “These teaching farms cultivate a lifelong interest in healthy foods and sustainability that will benefit students for years to come.”
