Caked with Love: M4 Bake Sale

During the initial months of school, members from the Stem+ elective class came together to organise a bake sale. Our goal was to raise funds for our ongoing vertical farm project. The fundraising was a success, with the proceeds going directly towards purchasing essential materials for our farms.

The vertical farm project, which strives to create a sustainable and efficient method of growing plants, has been an important point for our Stem+ class. With the funds raised from the bake sale, we were able to purchase crucial parts such as materials, electrical components, and last but not least, the actual plants. These materials are necessary to bring our concept to life.

The bake sale itself was a collaborative effort, with students making baked goods and volunteering their time to make the event a success. The variety of sweet treats on offer was impressive, and the atmosphere was lively and festive. The sweets included plenty of different cupcakes and slices of various cakes, accompanied by 2 types of cookies, everything baked and prepared by us in the school canteen, with the help of the cooks. The event not only generated a significant amount of funds (over 400 euros) but also fostered a sense of collaboration and friendship among students.

The funds raised from the bake sale will have a direct impact on the progress and development of our vertical farm project. The Arduino and water pumps will enable us to automate the irrigation system, ensuring that our plants receive the optimal amount of water, also based on the sensors that will send the signal to the Arduino in case of an unfavourable environment for growing the plants selected. The bamboo and wood panels will provide the structural framework for our farm, while the screws will secure everything in place and help us create a door, which it allows you to see inside. The plants themselves will be the crowning glory of our project, providing a sustainable source of fresh produce for our school community.

Many students participated to this amazing project, including: Nicola Azzano, Elia Cominato, Giorgio Valmassoi, Greta Mangialardi, Giulio Tombacco, Victoria Dubasova, Emanuela Ferruzzi Balbi, Margherita Buoso, Nicole Baczai and  Giada Maria Tonella. To give a better overview, we decided to interview three people that participated in this project. We give a special thanks to these three for helping us create this blog. Hope you like them.

-What were your intentions when you started this project? (Greta Mangialardi)
My initial intentions when starting this project were to ensure we could purchase all the necessary high-quality supplies and equipment to set up the farm for maximum success and impact. We all wanted to be sure we would provide the vertical farm with the best possible materials. Specifically, beyond just the farming equipment, we also wanted to ensure we had ample resources to build the ideal physical model for the Vertical Farm. In addition, our intentions were not only related to raising money for our project but also learning new collaborative skills, and enlarging our student portfolio.

-What were you able to get out of it, both from an economical point of view but also from a personal perspective? 
From an economical point of view, my team and I were able to profit 422€ that we reinvested on our STEM+ class to provide materials and equipment needed for the Vertical Farm project. We didn't only gain money out of this fundraising, but I believe also the experience is crucial at this point of our student career, my group and I developed decision-making, entrepreneurship, team-building and selling skills. 

- How did this project help you develop your Vertical Farm? (Giorgio Valmassoi)

This fundraiser we did, allowed us to finance the entire class of M4, 6 groups of guys who developed a Vertical Farm. With the money we acquired, we bought items such as some ARDUINO 1Pro, motherboards, sensors of all kinds and types, cables, pipes, materials such as bamboo and screws, and dozens of other things. All this to develop a Vertical FArm Sustainable during STEM+ classes. This bake sale was of crucial importance for the development of our project, and it all came about thanks to our two groups.

Through events like the bake sale, our Stem+ class is not only raising funds but also promoting a concept of innovation, teamwork, and community involvement. We are grateful for the support of our school and the enthusiasm of our students, which has made this project possible. As we continue to work on our vertical farm, we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on our school and the environment. Hopefully, you'll be able to see them soon!