Empowering Communities: BCC Students Revolutionize Urban Agriculture
At Bergen Community College, students are taking hands-on action to revolutionize sustainable urban agriculture and improve local food security.
BCC Student Jemima Falconi inspects and waters fresh hydroponically grown greens inside the controlled environment agriculture system.
As part of the community-driven Rutgers Newark Bodega Project, BCC students are actively involved in building a resilient food supply chain that links local farms and school gardens directly to Newark's bodegas. This initiative represents a powerful synergy between education, environmental stewardship, and local community support.
The Core of Innovation: Advanced Hydroponic Farming
At the core of this initiative is a push toward advanced hydroponic farming. Hydroponics is a highly sustainable agricultural method that involves growing plants without soil by utilizing nutrient-rich water solutions. This approach allows crops to grow much faster while using significantly less water and space compared to traditional farming methods.
Why Hydroponics?
Experiential Training: Deep Water Culture (DWC)
Students are gaining vital, experiential training by managing these indoor systems. For example, student Jemima Falconi recently helped manage an active Deep Water Culture (DWC) hydroponic system. In this specific setup, plant roots are suspended directly in oxygenated water. The plants were supported by floating platforms while a pump continuously circulated the nutrient-rich water to ensure optimal growth.
Hydroponics Lab Video Showcase
Select a tab below to watch students manage the active Deep Water Culture systems:
Fresh Leafy Greens Harvested
The results of the students' hard work speak for themselves. The team successfully produced a high-quality yield of multiple leafy greens, including fresh bok choy, kale, lettuce, spinach, and arugula. By mastering controlled-environment agriculture, BCC students are proving that year-round, sustainable urban farming isn't just possible—it's a critical step toward ensuring that fresh, healthy food access remains a fundamental right for everyone.
Bok Choy
Crispy, nutrient-rich asian green perfect for local recipes.
Kale
Fibrous superfood containing massive amounts of vitamins A, K and C.
Lettuce
Crunchy butterhead and romaine varieties forming the foundation of healthy salads.
Spinach
Tender baby spinach leaves packed with iron and essential minerals.
Arugula
Spicy, peppery salad greens to add a punch of flavor to Newark dishes.
Connect supply chain signals to real-world community impact
Use our open-source tools to see Newark's food landscape or simulate logistics metrics for our urban gardens.