University of Central Florida: Orlando, Fl
Tower Gardens at UCF: Inspiring Students to Live a Healthy Lifestyle since 2014. Growing Fresh, Sustainable, and Smart!
Did you know that one of the largest universities in the U.S. is also leading the charge in sustainable farming? That’s right—since 2014, the University of Central Florida (UCF) has been growing its own fresh produce using Tower Gardens®, and it’s changing the way students think about food!
Why Grow Up (Literally) with Tower Gardens?
UCF’s Wellness and Health Promotion Services FreshU Program is on a mission:
🌱 Bring more fresh fruits and veggies to campus
🌱 Teach students where their food comes from
🌱 Inspire healthier eating and even home gardening
With over 68,000 students, space on campus is precious—but Tower Gardens make it easy to grow more with less space while keeping things fresh, local, and sustainable!
How It Started vs. How It’s Going 🚀
UCF started with just 3 Tower Gardens. Today, they’ve expanded to 17, including 8 towering commercial units that stand 11 feet tall and grow 44 plants each! The rest are spread throughout campus, thriving indoors under grow lights.
What Are They Used For?
💡 Education – Teaching sustainable farming in urban spaces
💡 Fresh Produce – Supplying UCF’s Knights Pantry with nutrient-rich, locally grown greens
💡 Inspiration – Showing students that growing food can be simple, fun, and incredibly rewarding
What’s the Buzz on Campus?
Students and staff alike are amazed by this futuristic way of farming. The reactions? Excitement, fascination, and a newfound appreciation for fresh food!
What’s Next?
UCF dreams of expanding even further—as long as space and funding allow! So far, grants (including the UCF Parent and Family Fund grant) have made this initiative possible.
📽️ Watch the magic in action:
📖 Learn more about UCF’s Tower Gardens:
👉 UCF Tower Garden Workshop
👉 How UCF Provides Free Produce
Want to Start Your Own Tower Farm?
If you’re an educator or part of an institution looking to bring Tower Gardens to your space, let’s make it happen! Living Towers can help you set up your own commercial Tower Farm for a sustainable, productive, and efficient way to grow fresh food.