Teaching children to be sustainable and self-reliant can be a difficult task. The task is made even more difficult when the resources for sustainable living are for adults and very few of those resources are easily converted or conveyed in a homeschool setting. There are certain projects, however, that can be used as a homeschool tool for sustainable living and help the family stay sustainable as well. One of them is window farming.

What is Window Farming?

Window farming is also known as vertical gardening. The concept of a window farm is simple in its design and results. Using recycled water bottles, air pump and air lift tube, one gallon milk jug and small netted flower pots to create a fully functional hydroponic garden. A small model can be made for around $30 while larger models can be made to fit entire windows in the home for around $100 to $300 depending on the materials you use and if a premade kit is purchased.

What Can it Grow?

You can grow small fruits such as strawberries, greens, herbs and small vegetables. The possibilities are limitless depending on the size of window farm you create. There is no real season to worry about with a window farm so, your child or family can grow plants year round.

How is it Sustainable?

The window farm creates a small urban or household garden for the family. This means that during difficult times or if the family is moving toward a sustainable and self-reliant lifesytle, the produce from the window farm can offer food and nutrients. With no seasons to be concerned with, the window farm is perfect as an ongoing homeschool project to teach basic sustainable living and self-reliant lessons.

What Lessons Will it Teach?

There are hundreds of lesson plans that can be created from a window farm project. The most common are: Gardening, Botany and Horticulture Hydroponics Record and Data Maintencne Environmental Lessons Science Based Lesson Plans Journal Writing and Vocabulary Building Basic Math Osmosis Lesson Plan Window farms can be created simply and easily. For full plans on window farms visit Windowfarming.org.