FAQ
GENERAL QUESTIONS
WHAT IS AN EDUCATIONAL GARDEN?
An educational garden is a space within a learning environment where students learn how to grow plants, vegetables and/or fruits. It is an educational project that involves creating a dynamic classroom and offers students the chance to enrich their learning through interactive experiences that have personal meaning for them. The garden serves as an educational tool and creates a stimulating learning environment for students.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS CAN WE DO WITH A VIREO HYDROPONIC GARDEN?
With the Vireo hydroponic garden, there are endless possibilities of projects/ideas and skills that can be developed, such as:
- Developing analytical skills and critical thinking;
- Focusing on students’ well-being by practicing mindfulness;
- Promoting healthy eating by enjoying healthy lunches made with the harvested vegetables;
- Developing students’ entrepreneurial skills by selling the product of their harvest;
- Creating your own projects that will meet your needs and ambitions.
We can also sit down with you to guide you through your project.
HOW DOES HYDROPONICS WORK?
Hydroponics is a type of horticulture which involves growing plants without soil or pesticides. In a hydroponic garden, plant roots are in direct contact with water. Plants benefit from constant irrigation and a constant supply of nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, they can grow faster and produce healthier and more abundant crops. A lot of the produce we eat today is grown hydroponically. You will be surprised by such bountiful harvests and you may find yourself wanting to share them!
HOW DO WE HELP YOU CREATE A SCHOOL GARDEN PROJECT?
Vireo works in collaboration with educational institutions in order to offer educational garden projects. Our offer includes all the equipment and seeds you need, including access to our digital platform where you will find all the instructions relating to gardening and the use of the hydroponic garden, teacher resources, and instructional material. Our team is available to support and inspire you along the way.
EXPERIENCE RELATED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE VIREO PROJECT?
The Vireo garden project is a turnkey project. It includes:
Equipment:
- Indoor hydroponic garden
- Maintenance equipment (measuring instruments, gardening tools and container for manual water filling)
- All single-use supplies for one year (seeds, substrates, nutrient solutions and cleaning products)
- Delivery
Digital platform:
- Access to the Vireo digital platform (web app offering extensive resources and features to coordinate your project)
Service plan:
- 3 steps implementation and follow-up approach to project success
- Access to our specialists
- Warranty (parts and service)
HOW MANY STUDENTS DOES ONE GARDEN SERVE?
The Vireo 3-storey garden can hold up to 102 plants and is highly mobile. It can serve a single class or the entire school, providing numerous configurations to run concomitant educational activities. A regular harvest takes approximately 2 months (2 1/2 months for leafy greens and herbs), providing the school with multiple opportunities to include as many students as possible in the project.
WHAT KIND OF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED?
Teachers are fully equipped to assemble the garden and guide their students through the whole process. Every step has an educational purpose that we enable through the platform and resources.
DOES THE VIREO WEB APP COLLECT ANY STUDENT DATA?
No student data is collected. Registration is made at the school level, so no individual data is collected at the student level. Teachers and school staff are the only ones with “login” capability. Students can write notes about their observations of the garden, but the person in charge of the school account will confirm that no inappropriate content or personal data is written before it is saved.
CAN THE GARDEN BE STARTED AT ANY TIME DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR?
Yes, but note that different types of plants grow at different paces, so the number of harvests you get varies depending on the time you started your seeds.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GARDEN DURING LEAVE OR ANNUAL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS?
Our indoor garden is autonomous for 12 to 15 days. If you have to be away for an extended period, it’s possible to turn off the system (harvest the garden and clean it completely). Upon your return, place the substrates and seeds in the garden and restart the system.
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
HOW DOES THE VIREO HYDROPONIC GARDEN WORK?
- 3-storey garden on wheels; has very good mobility and fits easily into a standard door frame.
- Generates bountiful harvests all year round.
- Can easily be shut down during extended absences and school holidays.
- Requires a standard power socket only (120V) and does not require a direct connection to the aqueduct.
- With its horticultural and energy-efficient lights and timer, the vegetable garden can be located where there is little or no natural light.
IS THE VIREO HYDROPONIC GARDEN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?
Vireo aims to provide the most ecoresponsible indoor hydroponic gardens available. No pesticides or herbicides are used and we favor local suppliers. The proximity and freshness of food greatly reduces waste by users and helps reduce food transportation to your plate! Know that our research and development team is continuously working on reducing the environmental impact of inputs and increasing ecological assets.
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A HYDROPONIC GARDEN?
A hydroponic system is made up of a water system, an electrical system and a structure made of water-repellent materials. The components are as follows: a reservoir, an air pump, a water pump, LED horticulture lights, grow trays, net pots, gardening tools, products and seeds. All of these are provided with the Vireo hydroponic garden!
DOES THE GARDEN REQUIRE A CONNECTION TO THE WATER MAIN?
You do not need a connection to the water main. The reservoir of the garden is filled manually using tap water.
WHAT ARE THE ELECTRICITY REQUIREMENTS?
The garden is powered by electricity for the air pump, water pump, and LED horticulture lights to function. You need a standard power socket of 120V only. Like humans, plants need rest. Lights can be turned off 8 hours a day.
DO MY PLANTS NEED NATURAL LIGHT?
The energy-efficient LED horticulture lights provided with the Vireo hydroponic garden are sufficient. They are designed to ensure a constant and stable light supply and the timer allows you to adjust the on/off time. In this context, your plants do not need natural light, as their needs are met.
If you cannot find the answer to your question or want more information?