Frequently Asked Questions

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Green St. Louis Machine  is dedicated to fostering sustainable empowerment around healthy food in underserved communities in St. Louis. We achieve this through our youth-centered initiative, which focuses on food justice, STEAM education, and urban agriculture. Our primary approach involves providing and supporting year-round, cutting-edge aeroponic gardening programs, within schools and youth organizations, with the goal of promoting sustainable empowerment around healthy food.  

Since 2015, Green St. Louis Machine in partnership with community agencies and schools are addressing these challenges. Inspired by Stephen Ritz and the Green Bronx Machine, whose goal is to help communities dealing with food insecurity by connecting urban agriculture to school curriculum, St. Louis was chosen as the first city to expand this model in local schools. The Green STL Machine currently supports PreK-12 programming at eight schools and five community organizations who have aeroponic Tower Garden growing systems. In 2018, The University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL), College of Education joined the team as a partner in promoting meaningful science education and healthy eating in our St. Louis schools and communities. Today, we focus on health and STEAM education, through hands-on, cross-curricular experiences growing food and we nourish the community through events such as our annual Green Gala where students display what they have learned and eat what they have grown.

  Mathews-Dickey Club of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis 

· St. Louis Science Center’s Youth Exploring Science Program

· Gene Slay's Girls & Boys Club of St.Louis

· Missouri Botanical Garden School Programs and Partnerships

· Center for Youth on the RISE, St. Louis County Human Services

· St. Louis Science Center’s GROW Exhibit

· St. Louis Public Schools (Pamoja, Carr Lane and Woerner)

· Northside Community Elementary and Middle Schools

· Kairos Academies

· Grand Center Arts Academy

· Heru Urban Farming

· Show Me Green Schools

· The Biome School

· Marian Middle School

· Ferguson Middle School

Throughout the school year, GSM educators and their students participate in various activities and experiments related to plant growth and healthy eating. Professional development and STEAM curriculum support is offered by UMSL’s College of Education.

The GSM experience is also featured weekly during after-school care. It extends until 8 pm Monday-Thursday and until 6 pm on Fridays with parent pick up. 

Students can participate in GSM activities, including urban agriculture, during summer camp at 

Mathews-Dickey Club. Summer camp runs from June through August, M-F, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

bgcstl.org/programs/summer-camp/ 

Twice a year, GSM schools and partners come together to make and share healthy food recipes from produce grown in the tower gardens. Parents and community members are invited to attend! Join us for one of these 

community events!

There are MANY ways to get involved:

Financial Supporter: plant a seed to sponsor a school or donate items for GSM needs.

Tower Garden Caretaker: Assist teachers and students with Tower Garden maintenance.

Farmer Grower/Community Gardener: 

Develop and implement growing activities at Mathews-Dickey Club or a GSM school.

Healthy Chef: Lead one or more sessions for students on healthy food preparation.

Engaged Entrepreneur: Help develop entrepreneurial skills around produce grown by students.

Teacher Champion: teach or assist a teacher with GSM science/STEAM, or other activities.

Intern with GSM: Focus on STEAM, social justice, or issues of food insecurity.

Volunteer for or Fund events or projects: one-time, once a month to help lead a healthy eating gardening plant art or STEM, after-school session.