The Farmer's Apprentice

The Farmer's Apprentice is a project done by the Commercial Vegetable Production class. Each pair of students is given their own plot of "land" in a greenhouse and challenged to raise as much produce as possible over the course of the semester. Responsible for planting, watering, fertilizing, and weed control, this activity is a chance for students to farm on a small scale.  Our greenhouse manager provides a multitude of transplants, and the "farmers" are encouraged to harvest and replant so as to get the most yield possible. Here are some of the students comments:

I learned a lot about the realities of farming in this project. This includes the setbacks…and that farming requires a lot of time, attention and know-how."

“The project itself was very interesting and a GREAT hands-on experience, something I know this college is proud of. I know I would not have been able to "get my hands dirty" in any other college Commercial Veg class, and I am really grateful to you and the college for these experiences. It adds so much, it keeps students invested and interested in the subject, it gives us the confidence boost to jump into working life, and it brings our knowledge to practical use."