Two TCC Teams Make Finals In National Innovation Challenge

Severe weather and drought can take a big toll on crops and food production in Oklahoma, so a group of students at Tulsa Community College is exploring possible solutions.

Thursday, June 4th 2015, 4:50 pm

By: Richard Clark

Two TCC Teams Make Finals In National Innovation Challenge

Severe weather and drought can take a big toll on crops and food production in Oklahoma, so a group of students at Tulsa Community College is exploring possible solutions.

This group is examining food in urban environments with a new approach to rooftop gardens involving sun shades and wind breaks. They say Oklahoma's harsh summer climate is the perfect laboratory.

"We've always had extreme weather," said Valerie O'Brien, TCC. "You know, sometimes it feels like it's more extreme now, but it's always been very extreme and so they felt like this would be the best place to test a number of different ways to grow food in rooftop gardens, using sun shades and wind breaks."

The proposal also creates a local and sustainable option for growing food. The students' project won them a spot in the Community College Innovation Challenge in Washington D.C. later this month.

They're one of two TCC teams competing. News On 6 meteorologist Mike Grogan helped with the project.