State education and agriculture representatives visited the Windy Hill Farm in the Methacton School District.

Jon Campisi, Patch Staff

Nov 7, 2022

WORCESTER, PA — State government officials visited the Methacton School District in this central Montgomery County community Monday morning to check out a relatively unique scholastic farming operation.

Officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Agriculture toured Windy Hill Farm at Methacton High School.

The hydroponic farm is located inside of a shipping container on school grounds. It's also referred to as a "freight farm."

According to the school district, Windy Hill Farm is a vertical hydroponic farm that is custom-built and contains state-of-the-art technology that receives electricity and fresh water directly into the frame of the shipping container.

Patch previously reported on Windy Hill Farm, which school district officials had said was among the first of its kind in all of Pennsylvania.

Methacton says that the farming course offered by the district is part of Methacton's focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and includes opportunities for both hands-on experience and a lab component.

It also places a strong emphasis on business, marketing, computer science and math concepts, according to the district.

The farming course is now in its second year.

Hydroponics refer to a specific type of agriculture in which plants are grown without the use of soil.

Students from both Worcester and Lower Providence Townships attend the Methacton School District.

Lead photo: State officials stopped in Worcester Township to visit Methacton's Windy Hill Farm, a hydroponic farm operating out of a shipping crate. (Photo Courtesy of the Methacton School District )