Twenty-seven students from the Lyndon B. Johnson High School Robotics Club proudly unveiled their hydroponic garden in an outdoor area of the campus on Wednesday.
The students in the LBJ Robotics Club demonstrated teamwork skills in areas such as engineering, design and landscaping over the nearly two months they spent building the project.
A hydroponic garden doesn’t rely on soil. Nutrient-rich water flows through a motorized cylindrical system that waters the whole garden by directly nourishing the roots. The irrigation pump was custom 3-D printed as well as the 84 pots that hold seeds and sponges. Eventually, the team hopes to grow produce that will be given to the culinary club.
Five students from the LBJ Robotics Club first gave an educational presentation on the project to district and campus leaders as well as District 1 Board Member Gilbert Aguilar, Jr. They then walked everyone to the hydroponic garden in an outdoor area where students were using chalk on the sidewalk and walls to create creative, inspiring art. A mural is being planned as well.
“This is a big team effort and these kids did a great job. This area was not really being used, and these students worked very hard to bring out this project. It will help a lot from every angle of education,” Aguilar said.
The engineering and robotics teacher who worked with the students - Jose Segura Ebanks - said the project is a work in progress.
“There are 27 team members but they are all divided into teams - mechanical, electrical, landscaping, research - and it really teaches project management, how to keep a timeline on electrical and mechanical issues, and learning about plants,” said Ebanks.
“The electrical box was covered in this classroom … how to wire everything, code it, and we covered sensors, the light sensor and moisture sensor. We created a website to monitor all these levels,” he added.
Carolina Morales, a senior on the team involved with the landscaping, said they are still working on leveling the ground. They also invited students to work with chalk outside near the garden.
“We wanted to make it lively and we want to open it up to the whole community, not just for us,” she said.
Team members said they could envision the project area turning into a relaxing environment that could be a stress-reliever for those sitting nearby.
“This project taught me teamwork, and I had to have a lot of help. It takes a lot of motivation, especially on these extremely hot days,” said Morales, who will attend TAMIU and major in biology. “It also taught me to have a lot more patience as well.”
LBJ students demonstrate how the hydroponic garden works
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