Urban Roots TN: Cultivating Minds & Gardens at STAR Academy
Welcome to Urban Roots TN
At STAR Academy, we’re sowing something extraordinary—a new agricultural experience built for 21st-century learners. Urban Roots TN is a hands-on farm education program launching on our north Memphis campus in fall 2025.
What is Urban Roots TN?
Urban Roots TN is an on-campus agricultural learning environment that enhances our academic curriculum with opportunities for students to:
- Explore science through sustainable farming
- Learn where food comes from and how it grows
- Practice environmental responsibility
- Engage in outdoor, project-based learning
- Develop leadership through gardening, teamwork, and animal care
Our campus additions will include:
- Custom cedar raised garden beds
- A greenhouse for year-round growing
- A secure chicken coop and small animal area
- A shaded outdoor classroom pavilion with a built-in teaching kitchen
- Composting stations, native plants, and water access solutions
Why Agriculture?
In a city environment, children often lack access to green space and real-life food systems. Urban Roots TN helps students:
- Build life skills through nurturing plants and animals
- Connect science, health, and nutrition
- Develop confidence, patience, and curiosity
- Experience joy and ownership in learning
A Community Effort
Urban Roots TN is made possible through strategic partnerships, local support, and STAR Academy’s vision for holistic student development. We’re growing not only crops—but character, community, and care.
Timeline
- Phase 1 (Summer–Fall 2025): Land clearing, soil preparation, garden bed installation, and outdoor classroom construction.
- Phase 2 (2026): Animal care zone, greenhouse build, and student-led planting projects.
- Phase 3: Integration into science and wellness curriculum.