Skip to content
UM System Logo
Community Connect
What we do together
  • About
  • Events
  • News
  • Resources 
    • Veterans Resources
  • Resources
  • Veterans & Military-affiliated Resources
  • Add Engagement
  • Edit Engagements
  • See Our Impact
  • Engagement Mapping
  • Community Connect Sites 
    • Mizzou Community Connect
    • UMKC Community Connect
    • S&T Community Connect
    • UMSL Community Connect
  • About
  • Events
  • News
  • Resources 
    • Veterans Resources
  • Resources
  • Veterans & Military-affiliated Resources
  • Add Engagement
  • Edit Engagements
  • See Our Impact
  • Engagement Mapping
  • Community Connect Sites 
    • Mizzou Community Connect
    • UMKC Community Connect
    • S&T Community Connect
    • UMSL Community Connect
Facebook share button Twitter share button
1748635492
UMSL ★  Health, UM System Collaborations, Youth

Green St. Louis Machine

The Green St. Louis Machine (GSM) is an educational initiative focused on promoting healthy eating, engaging students in STEM practices, and developing skills in urban agriculture, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.

ongoing: The Green St. Louis Machine (GSM) partnership with UMSL College of Education began in fall 2017 and is ongoing. GSM programming takes place throughout the school year at partner schools and after-school at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club. The program is offered over summer at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, along with professional development opportunities for GSM educators.
Resource, Resource
Green St. Louis Machine

Housed at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the GSM partners with UMSL’s College of Education and Next Gen Growing to support local schools, educators, and students engaged in curriculum using aeroponic tower garden technology. GSM is inspired and supported by the work of global educator Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine.


Science curriculum support for the Green St. Louis Machine (GSM) is provided by UMSL’s College of Education. Twice a year, GSM schools and partners come together for a Green Gala and Harvest Fest to make and share healthy food recipes from produce grown in the tower gardens. Parents and community members are invited to attend! Students can participate in GSM activities and experiments during summer camp at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club. Two, four-week sessions offered in June and July, M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Throughout the school year, GSM educators and their students participate in various activities and experiments related to plant growth and healthy eating.

Impact

As of spring 2020, students at five local schools (Grand Center Arts Academy, Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls, North Side Community Middle School, Pamoja Preparatory Academy, and St. Roch Catholic School) and those who attend programming at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club gain first-hand experience growing, harvesting, and preparing healthy food from aeroponic tower gardens in their classrooms. Pre- and post-surveys from students engaged in the program show that among student gardeners, the number of students who enjoyed eating fruits and vegetables increased from 48% to 83% and students reported a 15% increase in their willingness to try novel healthy food.
themes list badge
Education, Food, Health, Youth Programming

Date

  
ongoing

Contacts

Nicolle von der Heyde, M.Ed.
  vonderheyden@umsl.edu
  314-516-5095
William C. Kyle, Ph.D.
  kylew@umsl.edu
  314-516-5375

Partners

Sherry Amen
  sherry.l.amen@gmail.com
  314-757-6607
Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club
  lwilliams@mathews-dickey.com
  314-382-5952

Location

  4245 N Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63115, USA

Most Recently Added

UMSL logo

Five Guys Named Moe

UMSL

Eye on UMSL: Tritons Together reaching out to help those impacted by the devastating tornado that ripped through St. Louis on May 16

UMSL

Latest class of Coro Fellows learn about, work to address challenges in St. Louis but also witness city coming together

UMSL

Garden View Care Centers partnership opens doors for UMSL nursing students

UMSL

0

Explore More Engagements

<< Candlelight Concert: Queen vs. ABBA
Latest class of Coro Fellows learn about, work to address challenges in St. Louis but also witness city coming together >>

Explore More Engagements

<< Candlelight Concert: Queen vs. ABBA
UMSL Arts & Culture
Latest class of Coro Fellows learn about, work to address challenges in St. Louis but also witness city coming together >>
UMSL Training & Professional Development
  • University of Missouri System Community Connect
  • Mizzou Community Connect
  • UMKC Community Connect
  • Missouri S&T Community Connect
  • UMSL Community Connect
  • UM System
  • University of Missouri – Columbia
  • University of Missouri – Kansas City
  • Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • University of Missouri – St. Louis
  • About Community Connect
  • Login
  • Contact
um system seal
Copyright ©2025 Curators of the University of Missouri. All Rights Reserved.