ABSTRACT
Peterson Middle School, located in Silicon Valley, began a hydroponic project in 1992 by designing a simulated space capsule (ASTRO 1) to house various hydroponic growing systems (Figure 8.1). “Tending the plants and monitoring their progress teaches responsibility and a respect for living organisms that no textbook biology lesson could convey” was the comment made by the two lead teachers (Brooke and Silberstein 1993). The lettuce and tomatoes produced were served in the school’s cafeteria. The ASTRO 1 project has led to teacher presentations at hydroponic camps and teacher conferences (Silberstein 1995), as well as workshops for teachers held mainly in California with the assistance of the Hydroponic Society of America (HSA) (Silberstein and SpoelstraPepper 1999).
