The plug-in-and-grow hydroponics lab for elementary classrooms — direct from the maker
This is the easiest way to put a working, year-round grow lab in a PreK-4 classroom. It ships fully assembled and pressure-tested — no build, no leaks, no "some assembly required" that eats a teacher's prep week. Plug it in, add water, and students are growing. And you're buying it directly from the company that builds and supports it, not a reseller — so lesson, hardware, and funding questions go straight to the team that made it.
Why this rack fits elementary better than a tower or a reseller box
-
Sized for little hands. A compact 30"W × 14"D × 60"H footprint with tiers low enough for PreK-4 students to reach, plant, and harvest themselves.
-
Everyone grows, fast. Trays hold up to 15 microgreen trays or 30 student 6-cell trays — every child grows their own, and microgreens harvest in days, not months, so young students see results before they lose interest.
-
It runs itself. Automated LED spectrum tuned for edibles, energy-efficient fan arrays, and a self-watering tank on timed cycles. Maintain the water level and it grows on its own — through weekends and breaks.
-
Standards-aligned, not just fun. Curriculum and projects built with professional educators and commercial growers, mapped to NGSS (see the table below) so grow time counts as science instruction.
-
Bought direct means supported and current. PD, program support, and curriculum updates come from us — resellers ship a static box.
What's included
- Fully assembled, pressure-tested grow rack (3-4 growing levels)
- Embedded LED lighting tuned to the ideal spectrum for edible plants
- Energy-efficient fan arrays and automated, self-watering system with timers
- Trays, seeds, growing media, humidity domes, basins, and pumps — everything to start growing
- Microgreens programming plus fruit and vegetable projects
- Professional development and ongoing program support
Fits neatly in a classroom, library, or open space. Just add water.
The science standards this lab teaches (sample)
A curriculum-first lab documents cleanly for grants and curriculum review. A sample of what elementary students explore at the rack:
| NGSS focus |
At the grow rack |
| K-LS1-1 |
What plants need to grow — light, water, nutrients |
| 2-LS2-1 |
Testing how sunlight and water affect plant growth |
| 3-LS1-1 |
Life cycles, from seed to harvest, on a fast timeline |
| 4-LS1-1 |
Plant structures and how they help plants survive |
Full alignment documentation is included and available for your grant or PO.
Trusted by real districts
We're a Florida-based company that works directly with public school districts and university extension partners — including Wakulla County School District and UF/IFAS Extension — not a catalog that drop-ships a box.
Built for how schools actually buy
-
Purchase orders welcome — we're a school vendor with W-9 and itemized, grant-ready quotes ready to go.
-
Automatic bulk pricing — buy 3 or more racks and the price drops automatically, ideal for a grade-level or multi-classroom rollout.
-
Fundable through STEM, science, and farm-to-school grants, Title I instructional funds, and foundations like KidsGardening and Whole Kids Foundation.
- Not sure how to fund it? See our 2026 school garden funding guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does it really arrive ready to use?
Yes. It ships fully assembled and pressure-tested for leaks. Plug it in, add water, and start growing — no build required.
What grades is this rack best for?
PreK through 4th grade, thanks to the lower, easy-access tiers and fast-harvest microgreens. Running a whole-class or older-grade program? See our larger School Hydroponics Grow Rack.
Is it standards-aligned or just an activity?
It's built to NGSS, with curriculum designed by educators and commercial growers, so grow time counts as core science and documents cleanly for funders.
How much maintenance is it?
Very little. The LED and watering cycles are automated — you just keep water in the tank. It runs through weekends and short breaks on its own.
Should I buy from Farming The Future or a distributor?
Buy direct. Same rack, plus direct support from the team that builds it, curriculum updates, automatic bulk pricing, and hands-on grant and PO help resellers don't provide.
Get a free, grant-ready quote
Tell us your grade levels and how many classrooms, and we'll send an itemized quote — with bulk pricing applied — that drops straight into a PO or grant budget. Request your quote →
