Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School (BUGS)

BUGS is a community-based middle school, serving grades 6-8. Students study the environment across all subjects, using a hands-on, inquiry-based approach. BUGS is recognized as a National Wildlife Foundation Green Flag Eco-School and a Zero Waste School.

Sun Club is equipping BUGS with a new hydroponic garden that will be used by its 300 students. Each grade will engage with the garden differently: Sixth-graders focus on food systems and urban gardening, seventh graders on water systems and eighth graders on sustainable urbanization and climate change.

The produce grown is used for teaching nutrition and cooking classes to students and families, selling in the student-run Community Farm Stand, forming partnerships with senior centers and food justice organizations, and partnering with local restaurants for produce exchange.

Sun Club has donated $95,041 for the garden equipment and supplies, curriculum development, planning and training, as well as staff implementation.