As climate change, food insecurity, and supply chain disruptions challenge how we grow and access food, more people are turning to innovative solutions like indoor hydroponic gardening. One of those people is Ajani, a bright and curious Grade 5 student from Crestview School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, who recently earned the Sustainable Development Award at the Red River Heritage Fair for his science project on hydroponics.
With support and inspiration from local hydroponics company Les Verts Living, Ajani explored innovative ways to grow food indoors, year-round. His project is more than a school assignment, it’s a reflection of how young people are thinking critically about how we grow food and how we might do it better.
Ajani has always been an energetic and thoughtful kid. He loves sports, reading, and exploring the world around him. And he’s always been vocal about his dream: “When I grow up, I’m going to have a big farm and feed people.” That dream helped him decide on a science fair project related to farming and growing food.
After considering several topics related to agriculture, hydroponic farming stood out. With the support of his teacher, Mrs. Karli McMaster, and his parents, he gathered supplies, built a small system using PVC pipes, and began growing lettuce, basil, dill, and parsley.
Ajani did the bulk of his research at school, often coming home with lists of things he needed to keep the project moving. Mrs. McMaster provided a head of hydroponic lettuce to help get started — which turned out to be from Les Verts Living, a local Manitoba-based hydroponics company that Ajani had already included in his research. That connection led to a visit and tour of Les Verts’ Innovation Centre in Oak Bluffs, giving him even more insight into how professional hydroponic systems operate.
His presentation, titled “Canada’s Farming Heritage and Hydroponics”, impressed the judges at school, and he was selected to compete at the Red River Heritage Fair at the University of Winnipeg. There, the project needed more detail and refinement, so the family worked with Les Verts to prepare additional plants and materials, including lettuce, dill and tomatoes at different stages of growth.
The experience pushed Ajani to speak with confidence about his work. He fielded questions from four different judges, participated in interviews, and spoke with members of the public who were curious about hydroponics. “It warmed my heart,” said his mom, “to see how confidently he spoke with everyone. He really held his own.” Many attendees left feeling inspired, telling him they wanted to try growing food at home.
At the Fair, Ajani was awarded the Sustainable Development Award, a category that typically recognizes architecture or energy-focused projects. His hydroponics setup stood out for showing how agriculture can adapt to environmental and economic challenges, with hydroponics offering a practical, local solution.
The award ceremony was a proud moment for the entire family. What started as a simple school project had evolved into something that resonated with a wide audience. Ajani didn’t just meet the expectations, he expanded the conversation about sustainable food production.
Ajani’s project also opened his family’s eyes to the potential of hydroponic gardening. As his mother put it, “Every home should have a hydroponic system in it.” Living in Manitoba, where long winters mean produce is shipped from afar losing freshness and nutrients along the way, the idea of growing food indoors year-round is both practical and necessary.
Hydroponic systems like the Les Verts Terrace™ don’t require soil or arable land, use significantly less water and fertilizer, no pesticides and can be set up in existing indoor spaces. While there is an initial cost, the long-term benefits include greater food security, healthier produce, and a lower environmental footprint. “Health is wealth,” she emphasized. “And with the way the economy is heading, we might not have a choice but to grow our own food.”
Ajani’s story is a powerful reminder that young people are already thinking about the big challenges of tomorrow. It also shows how schools, families, and local businesses can work together to support that kind of learning and innovation.
As trade disruptions and environmental concerns reshape how we think about food, indoor hydroponics is no longer a niche science project — it’s a vision for the future.
And thanks to one determined 10-year-old, that future feels a little brighter.
For more information about Les Verts Terrace™ indoor gardens, click here. Visit our school page to learn more about how to start an indoor hydroponic garden in your school or classroom.
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