At School No. 1354 “Vector” in Irkutsk, a novel initiative in urban farming is flourishing under the guidance of biology teacher Ivan Georgievich Parfeni. Students are actively involved in a city farming club, where they cultivate vegetables and greens within a greenhouse installed on the school grounds. This practical endeavor aims to instill a deeper appreciation for nature and plants among the younger generation.
“Four years ago, together with the school’s director, we envisioned that hands-on greenhouse activities would motivate children to pay more attention to nature and plants,” explains Mr. Parfeni. “Since then, we’ve installed a greenhouse measuring 3 by 4 meters on the school premises.”
Annually, students grow a variety of crops including cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, pumpkins, zucchinis, and others. They actively participate in selecting plant varieties and meticulously care for their crops.
“This year, we’re cultivating tomato varieties such as ‘Mikado’ and ‘Chio-Chio-San,’ which are well-adapted to our climate,” continues Mr. Parfeni. “Additionally, the students wanted to try something unusual, so they chose the cherry tomato variety ‘Best,’ known for producing tomatoes of different colors on the same vine: red, yellow, purple, and brown.”
The city farming club has garnered popularity among students in grades 5 to 7, fostering not only agricultural skills but also a sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship.
“During the summer, they impress their grandparents with their deep knowledge of vegetable cultivation at their dachas,” notes the teacher.
Hydroponic setups are used separately to grow greens, where plant roots are suspended in a nutrient-rich solution rather than soil—a method reflective of the burgeoning profession of urban farming. This trend is gaining momentum in Russia, with the first city farms appearing in “Skolkovo” in 2017. Today, an increasing number of colleges and universities offer specialized training in this promising field, recognizing the demand for skilled professionals in urban agriculture.
“We are currently finalizing the development of a new greenhouse equipped with automated irrigation, lighting, temperature control, and ventilation systems,” reveals Ivan Parfeni. “This facility will adhere to modern city farm standards, and we plan to participate in urban competitions with this project in the near future.”
The ultimate goal is for students to independently conceptualize and implement a high-tech greenhouse project, integrating their learnings from biology, robotics, and programming.
“We’re also tasked with developing a smartphone-controlled program for remote greenhouse management,” adds Mr. Parfeni. “Many processes will be fully automated—for instance, heating will activate if cold weather is forecasted, or windows will open for ventilation during hot spells.”
Moreover, students understand that urban agriculture offers viable career opportunities, including supplying restaurants with fresh produce—without the traditional soil-tilling approach, as city farm staff are attired in modern lab coats while monitoring advanced greenhouse environments.
