BELOIT â The Beloit School District in conjunction with its Food Service Department will be offering hydroponically grown produce at its schools.
Hydroponic garden systems do not use soil and rely on water and nutrients to grow food. The ones purchased by the district can grow lettuces and herbs in about two-month intervals.
The school board approved the purchase of eight “gardens” in early summer. Costing about $4,000 apiece, they were paid for via an excess fund balance in Fund 50, used for the district’s food and community service activities. No K-12 instructional or instructional support related functions are recorded in these funds, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) website at https://dpi.wi.gov.