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SUNY Potsdam's WISER Center Brings Tower Gardens and Growing Racks to Massena Central School

SUNY Potsdam's Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research Supports Local School District, Thanks to Alcoa Foundation Grant

Potsdam, NY (06/23/2025) — Students and faculty from SUNY Potsdam's Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research recently traveled to Massena Central School to help install tower gardens and growing racks. The visit not only promoted sustainability, but also doubled as an educational and enrichment activity, supporting the school's dining services with fresh, organic produce.

WISER Center Coordinator Raymond Bowdish '87, along with student interns Annabel Ubeda '25 and Gabby Mazzullo '26, collaborated with students from Massena's PLEASE program -- serving children ages 5 to 15 with the highest level of need -- to set up the school's new indoor growing systems. The hands-on activity introduced students to the basics of plant science, including seed germination, nutrient testing, and pH balance.

The partnership is supported by a $20,000 grant from the Alcoa Foundation, supporting WISER's community-based programs aimed at increasing food resilience and biodiversity.

"These students are my hallway neighbors, and I have really gotten to know them over the past year. They will be helping me with the grow systems by watering plants, measuring and testing nutrients, and harvesting the produce. They will also be encouraged to eat the produce through classroom salad days and on the cafeteria salad bar," said Kristin Colarusso-Martin, the community schools director and food service director for Massena Central Schools. "Dr. Marcie Goodrow (their main teacher) and I are looking at this as a way to help these kiddos develop life skills, as well as introduce some hands-on science and nutrition."

During the visit, the WISER team showed the students how to plant and germinate seeds, and then worked together to assemble the tower gardens and grow racks in a collaborative team effort. The visit concluded with a shared pizza lunch and lively discussions, reinforcing the sense of community and collaboration.

"It's always rewarding to watch college students interact with younger students. Both groups learn so much, and they create memories from supporting and cooperating around an important shared need -- food! It doesn't matter what age they are, they all enjoy growing their own food," Bowdish said.

For more information about the Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/biology/wiser.

SUNY Potsdam's Department of Biology is grounded in the principle that every student should receive a quality education fitting their interests. Undergraduate research is embraced, with opportunities for hands-on learning in the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, cell and molecular biology, environmental science, the health sciences, and anatomy and physiology. The department also operates the Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/biology.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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Media Attachments

Brycen Oakes (left) helps to plant seedlings that will be grown in tower gardens and growing rack at Massena Central School, along with SUNY Potsdam WISER Center intern Gabby Mazzullo ’26 (right).

Clayton Lewis (center) high fives WISER Coordinator Raymond Bowdish ’87 (right) while helping to assemble tower garden systems during a visit to Massena Central School. Clayton is assisted by Dr. Marcie Goodrow, who leads the district’s PLEASE program.

SUNY Potsdam student and WISER intern Annabel Ubeda ’25 (second from left) shows students in the PLEASE Program at Massena Central School how the base of a tower garden system works, including from left, Cloe Nelligan, Brycen Oakes and Leland Dotson.

From left, Kristin Colarusso-Martin and Cloe Nelligan pour water into the base of a tower garden at Massena Central School. The project was supported by SUNY Potsdam’s Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research, thanks to funding from the Alcoa Foundation.

Student interns and staff from SUNY Potsdam’s Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research (WISER) helped set up tower gardens and growing racks as part of an educational event at Massena Central School, supported by grant support from the Alcoa Foundation.

Jett Jenkins (center) admires the growing lights on a newly installed tower garden at Massena Central School, during an educational event hosted by SUNY Potsdam’s WISER Center.

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