Hancock High School science teacher Leanne Laakinen addressed the Hancock School Board Monday with a presentation on a recently received donation of a Flex Farm hydroponic garden system. (Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — Hancock Schools recently received a hydroponic garden system in the form of a donation from an anonymous source. The growing system will not only provide lessons for students, but will also provide healthy food to the school meal program.

“There is a retired school teacher in Marquette,” Leanne Laakinen, Hancock High School science teacher, said, “and she is looking for schools to donate these to.”

Laakinen said the Flex Farm hydroponic growing system, which costs about $5,000 is a large unit, approximately six feet tall, and capable of producing up to 25 pounds of food every four weeks.

According to its website, the Flex Farm is a cross-curricular learning tool that takes a different approach than other STEM and health-oriented applications. Fresh, student-grown crops can be used in school food programs, donated to local food pantries, and incorporated into micro-enterprise and fundraising projects.

Laakinen said the weekly maintenance of the unit is five to 30 minutes, which will be for the students to do.

“it’s good for the school to have a good piece of equipment,” she said, “but it’s more to be able to share that with students and get the students involved. It will all be student led.”

The flex farm is able to produce up to 25 pounds of food every four weeks, she said,. She spoke with Shelby Turnquist, food service director, who said the food can be used in the school meal program.

Laakinen said that the flex farm will enhance the curriculum.

“Not only did we get this amazing structure,” she said, “but it comes with an entire (digital) platform of lessons and hands-on activities for K-12.

“Right now, it’s just in the high school, but it has an entire curriculum for the elementary school as well.”

The system is user friendly and the program also provides training resources, not only for teachers but also for students.