Martin County, Kentucky, experiences persistent food insecurity and limited access to healthy foods. In response to this, the Martin County Cooperative Extension Service (CES) partnered with the Martin County Schools’ 21st Century Learning Program to engage families across the community. Through this partnership, each afterschool program received one hydroponic farming unit to provide experiential learning opportunities and increase access to fresh produce for students and families. Eighty-six children and their families at one elementary school received lettuce and herbs grown with the units. Providing the hydroponic units and partnering with a strong community partner will increase the sustainability of this programming initiative for several years to come.

Obesity is a persistent public health challenge in Kentucky, with areas of eastern Kentucky facing some of the highest incidences in the nation. Obesity rates are compounded by ongoing food insecurity challenges. Food insecurity rates in rural communities, particularly in parts of Kentucky, are higher compared to urban counterparts. Feeding Kentucky reports 1 in 7 adults and 1 in 6 children face hunger, with counties in Eastern Kentucky experiencing higher prevalence compared to the state. This is consistent in Martin County where 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 children are considered food insecure. Food insecurity is exacerbated by persistent poverty and geographic isolation which impede healthy food access. These disparities illuminate the need for collaborative partnerships engaging children and families to support healthy food access in this limited resource community.

Due to the tenuous geography and climate within Appalachia, large scale farming opportunities are limited. Coupled with isolation in rural counties, quality and affordable produce is scarce. Therefore, a nontraditional approach is needed to address food insecurity and accessibility barriers to engagement in agricultural self-sufficiency. Hydroponic farming is a relatively new strategy that can provide gardening opportunities within geographically challenged regions. Youth-centric initiatives have been identified by community partners as instrumental for engaging in health-promoting activities. By leveraging trusted and reliable resources in this community, the Cooperative Extension Office and schools partnered to install environmental enhancements at two local schools. In spring 2022, one hydroponic Flex Farm unit was installed at one elementary and one middle school to increase access to nutritious foods.

During the 2022 Inez Elementary School summer program, between 50-86 students actively participated in the programming. Each student grew lettuce seedlings and transferred them to the pods in the hydroponic units. Students were educated on hydroponic farming and specifically how to monitor the water, examine plant nutrients, and care for plants. Each elementary school student was able to take home lettuce to their families in early August.