Between 2019 and 2021, Green Lab partnered with Inspire EBP, a Hackney-based education charity, to deliver a hands-on urban farming programme for Key Stage 2 primary school students.

The initiative was part of Inspire’s wider STEM-based ‘iDiscover’ programme, designed to introduce young learners to real-world applications of science, sustainability, and innovation.

Hosted at our London Incubator space – a facility purpose-built for experimentation and messy workshops – the programme offered children a practical introduction to urban agriculture. Surrounded by leafy greens and small-scale hydroponic systems, students explored the basics of plant biology, recycling, hydroponics, and sustainable growing.

Each 90-minute session guided children through the process of transforming a simple 500ml water bottle into a miniature farm for microgreens, using sustainable materials like coir, perlite, and knitting wool. Participants chose from a selection of seeds and were encouraged to express their creativity by designing animal faces for their planters – with the sprouting greens later growing into imaginative ‘hair’.

This playful combination of science, sustainability, and creativity made the workshops both educational and highly engaging.

The programme formed part of Green Lab’s broader educational strategy, which includes tailored learning for primary and secondary schools, undergraduates, and commercial teams across the UK and Europe.

Our goal is to inspire the next generation to think differently about food, waste, and resource systems – using design, play, and hands-on experience to make sustainability real and relatable.

Contact us for more information on our education programmes.