Babylon Micro-Farms brings hands-on, hydroponic farming into classrooms, empowering students to grow fresh produce year-round while learning about science, sustainability, and nutrition. Across the U.S., schools are using our farms to inspire curiosity, foster healthy eating habits, and connect academic concepts to real-world applications.
One standout champion of this movement is Stephen Ritz, founder of Green Bronx Machine and a Babylon Micro-Farms Education Ambassador, whose work has inspired countless educators to integrate vertical farming into their teaching. And in Arkansas, Bentonville Public Schools is showing just how transformative this technology can be for student engagement, culinary innovation, and sustainability.
Championing Change: Stephen Ritz’s Mission in the Classroom
Stephen Ritz’s journey began in the Bronx, where he saw firsthand the power of hands-on learning to transform lives. As the founder of Green Bronx Machine, Ritz has helped students grow over 165,000 pounds of vegetables while boosting school attendance and academic performance.
In 2024, Ritz partnered with Babylon Micro-Farms to accelerate vertical farming in classrooms nationwide. His message is clear: when students grow food, they grow their minds. “The STEM Garden is a powerful tool for teaching across disciplines — science, math, health, and even business,” says Ritz. “It turns classrooms into living laboratories where kids see the fruits of their labor, literally.”
Stephen Ritz pedals a STEM Garden micro-farm through Richmond, Virginia — on its way to the Bronx, NYC.
Ritz sees the STEM Garden as more than a classroom tool — it’s a way to build an interconnected community of young people across states and countries. “This allows children to all be on the same page in a different book, in a different state, in a different country at the same time and talk about the one thing that is universal, food,” he explains. His vision is for students everywhere to learn about food “the right way, the safe way, the nutritious way, the economic way, and the entrepreneurial way.”
“The STEM Garden makes you want to learn more, ask questions, taste the produce, and get involved — the learning possibilities here are endless,” Ritz adds. “This is what innovation looks like!”
By integrating Babylon Micro-Farms, Ritz helps schools:
- Teach STEM concepts through real-life applications
- Foster environmental stewardship and healthy eating habits
- Build a sense of ownership, pride, and curiosity among students
The partnership has quickly expanded beyond Stephen’s own classroom, with Galleri micro-farm installations at PS 70 and PS 62 in New York City. Both schools marked the occasion with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, celebrating not only the arrival of the new farms but also the opportunities they bring for hands-on learning, fresh food access, and community pride. These milestones signal a growing movement to bring vertical farming into more schools, empowering students and communities alike.
An aspiring filmmaker captures a Babylon Micro-Farms STEM Garden. Source: Stephen Ritz via LinkedIn
Hear Stephen Ritz share more about inspiring global student connections through food, the power of hands-on learning, and the impact of bringing Babylon Micro-Farms into schools in this video interview: https://youtu.be/Qgzg5xmvZf4
Spotlight: Bentonville Public Schools
In Northwest Arkansas, where farm-to-table dining is part of the local culture, Bentonville Public Schools is bringing that concept directly into the cafeteria with two Galleri Micro-Farms units — one at Bentonville High School West, run by District Chef David Thornton, and one at Bentonville High School North, managed by Assistant Director CeCe Pedersen. Their mission:
- Enhance farm-to-table learning in a region where local sourcing is a priority
- Offer fresh, hyper-local produce for school meals
- Create visible, interactive experiences for students
Cece Pedersen with her Galleri Micro-Farm
Why Babylon Micro-Farms?
For Pedersen, the decision came down to visibility, aesthetics, and ease of use.
“The units fit perfectly into our serving areas, where students can see food growing right in front of them. That visibility sparks curiosity and makes farm-to-table tangible.”
Hydroponics also allows them to grow year-round without the space or weather constraints of outdoor gardens.
From Garden to Tray: Culinary Creativity
The farms produce a steady rotation of greens, herbs, and microgreens, including:
- Purple kohlrabi microgreens
- Arugula
- Broccoli sprouts
- Pea shoots
- Bok choy
These harvests make their way into grab-and-go salads, themed menu days, and specialty recipes like pulled pork bahn mi with house-pickled cucumbers and garden-grown dill. Stickers and signage highlight items grown on site, giving students a direct connection between the farm and their plate.
Pulled Pork Bahn Mi with Freshly Harvested Cilantro and a Mixed Greens Salad
Engaging Students in STEM and Beyond
The micro-farms are living laboratories where students see hydroponics in action and connect it to science, math, and sustainability.
“When we first put the garden in, students immediately asked, ‘Are we eating that?’” Pedersen said. “That curiosity is our opening to talk about food origins, sustainability, and flavor.”
Simplicity and Support
Running the farms takes about one hour per week using Babylon’s scheduling app for plantings, harvests, and maintenance. A dedicated account manager provides quick solutions, ensuring crops stay on track.
Impact and Benefits
- Freshness & Flavor – Students are surprised by how much better fresh-picked produce tastes.
- Operational Fit – Low maintenance and easy integration into busy cafeteria routines.
- STEM Integration – Real-world applications for classroom concepts.
- Community Connection – Opportunities to collaborate with local chefs and partners.
Thornton sums it up:
“The most rewarding part is seeing people’s reaction when they realize this food was grown right here in the school.”
Looking Ahead
Bentonville plans to expand the variety of crops grown and integrate the farms into new menu concepts, like a Mediterranean-themed bar. They also aim to involve more students hands-on, reinforcing the connection between growing food and growing community.
Babylon Micro-Farms’ STEM Garden and Galleri Micro-Farm are more than indoor farms; they’re bridges between education, nutrition, and sustainability. From Stephen Ritz’s inspiring work with Green Bronx Machine in the Bronx to the hands-on innovation at Bentonville Public Schools in Arkansas, these living laboratories are proving that when students grow food, they grow their minds, their confidence, and their connection to the world around them.
Together, these programs are cultivating healthier students, engaged communities, and a more sustainable future, one harvest at a time.
Ready to bring a living lab to your school or community? Learn more about Babylon Micro-Farms’ STEM Garden and Galleri Micro-Farm and start growing change today.