WHITE PLAINS, NY and CENTRAL FALLS, RI--(Marketwired - Oct 20, 2015) - Acopia Harvest, a sustainable technology company specializing in hydroponics, is pleased to welcome its Project Sprout Sustainability Program and Green Machine® hydroponic growing kit to the students of Ridgeway Elementary School in White Plains, NY in association with the Food Bank for Westchester County.
This will be the very first school in the state of New York to receive two Green Machine® hydroponic indoor growing kits, which use four square feet of space to grow 64 plants such as basil and lettuce right in the classroom.
The RI-based urban farm organization uses its Green Machine® as a vehicle to promote sustainability, self-sufficiency and healthy eating at an early age. As part of their Project Sprout program, Acopia Harvest has been visiting schools across Southern New England and offering interactive presentations to students from pre-k to college level on how to grow food sustainably, indoors year-round using hydroponics. To celebrate the welcome of the program to Ridgeway on Friday, October 16th, the team provided an interactive Project Sprout presentation to all grades from 9:30am to 12:30pm.
As part of their mission to bring the program nationally, Acopia works closely with each Green Machine® school and its staff on developing comprehensive lesson plans with applications to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum.
Its Director of Operations, Amy Chauvin, adds, "Since the inception of Project Sprout two years ago, we are now in six states and three countries with our program. The students are so often engrossed by The Green Machine's coolness factor that they never realize they have crossed the threshold from playing to actually being educated in nutrition, biology, and plumbing, just to name a few."
"We are thrilled that the first ever Green Machine Hydroponics unit in New York State is here in Westchester," said Ellen Lynch, President and CEO of the Food Bank for Westchester County. "The program will leverage the Food Bank's farming and nutrition expertise to enhance the education of students at the Ridgeway School. We are grateful to Con Edison for their support of this program and their commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education in Westchester County."
About Acopia Harvest
The company is funded by Mr. Irving A. Backman of Dedham, MA, an entrepreneur and developer of alternative renewable projects and technologies relating to sustainability and environmental innovation for more than 40 years.
About the Food Bank for Westchester County
For over 25 years, the Food Bank for Westchester (FB4W) has led the fight against hunger in Westchester County, serving 265 frontline programs that provide food directly to the 200,000 county residents who are hungry or food insecure. FB4W supplies 95% of all food distributed annually across the region's food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and daycare and residential programs -- delivering over 6.3 million meals to people in need just last year. FB4W's collaboration with major retailers and corporations, and its expertise in food procurement, storage, and distribution, turns every $1 donated into $4 worth of fresh food provided for our hungry neighbors in Westchester County.
Contact Information:
For further information contact:
Acopia Harvest
Email:
Website:www.acopiaharvest.com
