Diamond Valley Students Are Growing the Future – Literally

We’re celebrating our N:OW for Net-Zero grantee, Oilfields High School in rural Alberta, whose student-led vertical farm was featured by CTV News Calgary! Since building a biosecurity headerhouse to protect their crops from pests and contaminants, the farm has achieved a 0% crop loss rate and is on track to grow an estimated 5,700 heads of lettuce in the coming year alone. Students earn credits running the farm end-to-end, learning hands-on and technical skills from planting and harvesting to marketing and distribution, and they’re even selling their fresh greens to several local restaurants and grocers. They recently opened a concession stand with farm-grown microgreens and herbs to feed healthy, school-grown foods to the student body.

We loved this quote from student Taeyo Shipman in the article: "I enjoy the hands-on experience we get—a hands-on environment where we’re learning how to do stuff that we don’t get to learn everywhere else."

Read the full CTV News article here: https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/something-you-cant-get-out-of-a-textbook-diamond-valley-students-enjoy-learning-at-vertical-farm/ 

The farm's incredible community impact was also recognized by MP John Barlow, who visited the school to congratulate the students on their outstanding work. See what MP Barlow thought about his visit here: https://www.facebook.com/johnbarlowmp/posts/it-was-such-a-pleasure-to-visit-the-oilfields-school-to-learn-more-about-the-stu/1854935269227939/ 

Want to learn more about Oilfields' journey from seacan to biosecurity headerhouse? Check out their full solution story on our website: https://nowfornetzero.org/solution-story/oilfields-high-school/