BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that the North Dakota Department of Agriculture has funding available for schools to incorporate a hydroponic garden into their curriculum.
“The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is seeking schools interested in bringing this STEM learning opportunity into their classrooms, which will also help increase access to local foods,” Goehring said. “Schools will have until May 2026 to grow their hydroponic garden, but we hope the gardens continue to be used by students long after the end of the grant period.”
K-12 public schools interested in receiving a hydroponic garden may go to https://www.ndda.nd.gov/gardengrant for full details and to fill out an application. Applications must be submitted in electronic form by Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified by Dec. 15, 2025, and gardens will be delivered in early January 2026. NDDA will award hydroponic gardens first come first serve to eligible applicants until available funding is exhausted. NDDA anticipates distributing approximately 50 hydroponic gardens. Schools that have received a hydroponic garden from NDDA during the 2023-24 school year are not eligible to apply for this round of grants.
Questions may be directed to Local Foods Marketing Specialist Jenna Nieters at 701-328-2659 or jnieters@nd.gov.
Funding for the program is from the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program.