

Jeff Cole of Beyond School Bells talks to visitors about the Greenery, a 40-foot-long shipping container that will operate as a high-tech hydroponic farm at The Bay. The container has space to vertically grow over 13,000 plants — the equivalent of a 2.5-acre farm.
A 40-foot-long shipping container in the parking lot of The Bay will soon be filled with a whole lot of green.
In partnership with Beyond School Bells, The Bay is launching The Greenery, a self-contained hydroponic farm housed in a repurposed shipping container. Members of Beyond School Bells and The Bay gathered with local leaders Saturday to officially launch the program.
Much like The Bay’s other youth-focused programs, The Greenery is designed to allow students access to engaging, hands-on activities — in this case growing food.
“We are thrilled about the opportunity to be able to turn kids on to sustainable agriculture,” said Andrew Norman, executive director and co-founder of The Bay’s parent organization Rabble Mill. “A lot of the kids in our neighborhood have never seen anything like this; none of us have.”
The Greenery setup is designed by the Boston-based company Freight Farms. Beyond School Bells was able to purchase the unit through a partnership with the Ben Hormel Harris Foundation, said state Sen. Anna Wishart, the director of partnerships for Beyond School Bells. Several local companies and individuals donated their time to help get it up and running.
Through vertical planting that doesn’t require soil, the shipping container is able to house 13,000 plants at a time, or about as much food as a 2.5-acre farm. Throughout the container are thousands of red and blue LED lights that can be precisely controlled through the trailer’s high-tech programming to provide the perfect amount and color of light for each plant, said Doak Field, director of operations at Freight Farms.
The setup is also water-efficient, as the water that flows throughout the trailer is repumped through the cycle.
“Everything is just way more efficient than growing outside,” Field said. “You can get the exact science down to whatever you need to grow.”
Field said the team hopes to start planting the container within the next two weeks and is planning to start with greens such as lettuces and kale, as well as herbs.
The program leaders plan to sell the food grown at the Greenery at local farmers markets or through weekly community-supported agriculture projects. They’ll also source produce to local restaurants.
While many of the similar freight farm projects that have popped up across the country have been for profit and run by adults, Lincoln’s will be one of only a few that are not-for-profit and youth-focused, Wishart said.
Beyond School Bells works statewide to provide after-school opportunities for students like The Greenery, she said.
“Our goal is to ensure that every kid, no matter where they grow up in Nebraska, has access to quality out-of-school programming and this freight farm is absolutely an example of that,” she said.
The project will offer an opportunity for students to learn a variety of skills, Wishart said, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln honor students will also play a role in mentoring younger students working on the project.
“This also creates an incredible platform for youth to learn entrepreneurship and about sustainable, high-tech agriculture and future careers in that space,” Wishart said.
The Greenery project is part of a series of environmental-focused projects across the state that Beyond School Bells is working on, the organization’s network lead Jeff Cole said.
“This will be the crown jewel,” he said. “But we’re already starting to do investments in rural Nebraska around outdoor classrooms, environmental education and a series of other things across the state.”
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said she sees the project as an example of innovative, environmentally friendly solutions that can help move the city forward.
“This is such a wonderful demonstration of how we can take better care of the Earth, create greater value for everyone in our community and hand something on to the next generation, something that they can have a leadership role in,” Gaylor Baird said.
Top Journal Star photos for April
Top Journal Star photos for April
Dr. Derrick Nero of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (bottom right, kneeling) helps members of the school’s Invention and Innovation in Engineering Education class inflate a weather balloon with helium Saturday at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum near Ashland.
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln Southwest baserunner Ethan Morrow creates a cloud of diving into home as a Lincoln Southeast wild pitch allows him to score from third base in the fourth inning Thursday at Densmore Field. Southwest won 7-4.
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln East’s Admir Mujkic (left) received a foul for a high kick near the face of Lincoln High’s Jaden Weiland in the second half Wednesday at Seacrest Field.
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Lincoln East’s Brayden McPhail (right) reacts after kicking the game-winning penalty past Lincoln High goalkeeper Owen Thompson (not shown) on Wednesday at Seacrest Field. Thompson had saved McPhail’s original attempt, but was judged to have come off his line before McPhail struck the ball.
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Nebraska’s Joe Acker (5) reacts after beating the tag to score the Huskers’ third run against Maryland in the fifth inning Friday at Haymarket Park.
Top Journal Star photos for April
Nebraska’s Cam Chick (29) steals third base as the throw from Maryland catcher Justin Vought gets past the Terps’ third baseman, allowing Chick to score in the third inning Saturday at Haymarket Park.
Top Journal Star photos for April
A person walks in the rain outside Lied Center, Thursday, April 8, 2021. After a rainy Thursday, the sunny weather is forecasted to return starting from Friday. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln Southwest’s Carson Truax (left) picks up the baton from teammate Cora Scott during unified track and field meet, Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at Lincoln Southwest. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Lincoln High goalkeeper Andres Moreno (00) makes a first-half save on a shot on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
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Leaves are returning to tree branches as the warming weather brings people out to Holmes Lake Park, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Registered nurse Anne Kingsley administers a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, during a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services drive-thru clinic at the Gateway Mall. About 1,000 shots were expected to be administered from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to those who registered for the vaccine through the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Red and yellow tulips soak up the sun in the Sunken Gardens on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Nebraska’s Billie Andrews (left) avoids the tag by Illinois’ Katie Wingerter as she steals second base in the third inning on Friday, April 9, 2021 at Bowlin Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, JOURNAL STAR
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Waverly’s Trevor Brown competes in shot put during the Waverly Invitational, Friday, April 9, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Flowers bloom on a crabapple tree at Holmes Lake on Monday, April 12, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Nebraska’s Jaxon Hallmark (2) fails to get a glove on the ball hit by Maryland’s Luke Shliger for a double in the fourth inning on Friday, April 9, 2021, at Haymarket Park. FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Top Journal Star photos for April
The cap of Papillion-La Vista’s Gage Ingram (23) comes off in the gusty wind as he looks to turn the double play against Lincoln Southwest’s Telo Arsiaga to end the inning on Friday, April 2, 2021, at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Nader Farahbod flambés a dish while preparing a to-go order at Billy’s Restaurant on Friday, April 2, 2021. Farahbod used the majority of his covid relief funds on to-go containers and cleaning supplies. Though his dining room is open, the majority of his business is still to-go. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Seward’s Kalen Knott clears 12 feet 9 inches on his way to winning the boys pole vault on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at the Norris Invitational. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln East’s Paige Poppe (center) celebrates her game-tying goal in the closing seconds of regular time against Lincoln Southwest on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Doane University student Macy Fuller gets ready to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot from registered nurse Kate Lange, the emergency response coordinator at Public Health Solutions District Health, during a vaccine clinic hosted on-campus, Wednesday, April 7, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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A view of Nebraska’s football practice, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln North Star shortstop Cooper Westlund (1) catches the shallow pop-up by Lincoln Southwest batter Jacob Oehm for the third out in the first inning on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at Den Hartog Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Alayna Ring (left), 4, and her brother Carson Ring, 5, push Carsen Hagler (center), 5, at the swings at Oak Lake Park, Monday, April 5, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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People take advantage of a warm day to kayak, fish and walk at Holmes Lake on Monday, April 5, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Nebraska’s Taylor Christopulos dismounts from the rings on Saturday, April 3, 2021, during the Big Ten Gymnastics Championships at Devaney Sports Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Norsfyre traveling circus performers Jade Korn (top) and Alyssa Ranard practice flow art using silk fans at Holmes Lake Park on Saturday, April 3, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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Fin Anderson (left) and Isaiah Liess scour the grass for colorful Easter eggs on Saturday, April 3, 2021, during the annual egg hunt at Tierra Briarhurst Park. The event, which brought together over 100 children, was sponsored by the Tierra Park Neighborhood Homeowners Association. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Firefighters respond to a call at 1626 D Street, Thursday, April 1, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Top Journal Star photos for April
Lincoln Lutheran’s Will Jurgens competes in the prelims of the boys 200 meter dash on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at the Norris Invitational. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Reach the writer at lstephens@journalstar.com or 402-473-7241.