Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Teach Their Students The Benefits Of Aquaponics

Learning New Skills 

In the November issue of the ASC magazine Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy were our featured educators of the month. The academy decided to introduce Aquaponics into their curriculum in 2011. The students learned how to grow food in their environmental science class with their teacher Dr Savage.

Since that time the students have grown bell peppers, hot peppers, leafy greens, kale, basil and lemon balm. Aquaponics is used to teach the students about aquatic ecosystems, basic microbiology and chemistry. This is exactly the kind of education that the Educators for Aquaponics site hopes to integrate into all schools. http://educatorsforaquaponics.com

One of the most important skills we can give to the next generation is the ability to grow their own food. Growing your own food gives you the freedom and choice to decide what ends up on your dinner plate. Too many of the foods that grace our supermarket shelves today are depleted of nutrition and full of nasty chemicals. http://www.chca-oh.org/TempDocuments/24_Feature_Article.pdf

A backyard aquaponics system can provide for a family of four and uses very little water compared to conventional farming. With space, water and environmental problems plaguing our planet, aquaponics provides solutions to these problems. When theory is put into practice the classroom comes alive. It is this kind of interactive teaching and student participation that helps students enjoy the science of growing food.

There is nothing quite like planting a seed, nurturing it and then be able to eat what you have grown. There is a sense of pride, achievement and fulfillment involved in that process. Our children need to feel as if they can contribute to their world in a practical way. Aquaponics fills that gap and we are very proud that schools like CINCINNATI HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY are leading the way.