The new KPU Plant Database App is here just in time for those spring flowers!
- Have a favorite plant? Take a picture.
- Have bugs feeding on your plants? Take a picture.
- Have leaf spots? Take a picture.
- Use the App to identify your favorite plants.
- Use the App to help identify the pest.
- Use the App to load your own images with a searchable description.
- Use the App to help find a particular plant or pest.
- Works on all Android Devices.
- The iOS Version will be in the App Store late April.
Please click on the image
to download the app
to your mobile device.
Greenhouse Production students present research projects
The second year Greenhouse Production students at KPU School of Horticulture cut their teeth on the research world and presented posters at a mini-conference in April. Having worked for the past three months on their topics, the poster presentations came as an enjoyable end of semester celebration of the diversity of this industry. Among many other topics, subjects of study were as diverse as:
- Designing and building a home-scale system for creating bio-char
- The use of Effective Micro-organisms on the growth of radish
- Is there a future in plasma lighting for greenhouse production?
- Can micro-greens be grown in soil that would meet vegan criteria?
- What are the options for commercial roof-top greenhouse production in Langley or other BC cities?
- Does birch tree extract offer a control for Phytophthora infestans?
These investigative learning projects provide students opportunity to look into the joys and frustrations of doing research and offer a chance to develop critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills. For some it is also a time to consider if research holds a future career option for them, or if they prefer to get involved in commercial production.
KPU School of Horticulture hosts entrepreneur delegation from India
On March 27, Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) School of Horticulture hosted a touring group of entrepreneurs from the world of agribusiness in the Maharashtra State of India. Participants included:
- Dr. Bhagwanrao Kapse, consultant with the Maharashtra State Horticulture and Medicinal Plants Board
- Mr. Anil Kotecha, Director & CEO, Ghodawat Agro Pvt. Ltd.
- Mr. Vishwas Jogdand, Chairman & Managing Director, Indian Greenhouse Pvt. Ltd.
- Mr. Bobby Nimbalkar, Head-Strategic Leadership Council & Dr.Apoorva Palkar, COO Education, Sakal Media Group.
- Mr. Kevin Loyens, Senior Manager Priority Markets – India
After tours of the School of Horticulture greenhouse crops training facilities and the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture Native Microbial Bio-control technology laboratories, the group visited a local commercial greenhouse business to view the investment and production techniques employed. Mr. Lawrence Jensen of Darvonda Nurseries welcomed the group to the greenhouses and explained their production philosophies for greenhouse ornamentals and vegetable crops. Mr. Jogdand commented afterwards that there are significant business opportunities that we can partner in and that the tour of Kwantlen’s School of Horticulture and the commercial greenhouses had made the whole trip worthwhile.
First Graduates of the Year
Collaborative project with Homeowners
Students in the Landscape Design II (HORT 2420) explore the design challenges associated with residential sites and small scale public spaces.
They applied site and client analysis, and plant composition and graphics in the preparation of ‘Concept and Planting Plans’. At the end of February, the students engaged in this participatory, collaborative project-based course had the opportunity to present their design solutions for a residential site to the homeowners of a residence.
Dealing with real-world situations brought high levels of learning and satisfaction to students in the class. Given the number of students presenting their concepts and garden designs, the options provided lots of opportunity for the clients to ponder over and pick their favourite aspects from each before implementing their new dream outdoor living space.
“Branching Out” speakers suggest - horticulture offers lots of diverse new careers in the future!
Over 50 students attending a recent “Branching Out” Conference at Kwantlen Polytechnic University School of Horticulture heard about the exciting new careers that are on offer just around the corner.
The theme for this year’s event was “Building resilient cities with limited water supplies. What our population is doing and new careers that we need to do to address resiliency issues.”
Panel speakers gave their ideas as to what new jobs might look like to address these sustainability needs.
The event combined presentations with an opportunity for students to have face-to-face ‘speed-dating’ sessions with nearly 30 potential employers, and gave the forward-thinking employers their chance to snatch up their choice of graduate for new career openings.
Horticulture students mix it up with Alex Hope Elementary
During the spring 2014 semester, students in the second year of the Greenhouse and Nursery Production
Diploma from Kwantlen’s School of Horticulture are hard at work developing a food garden with students at Alex Hope Elementary school . in north Langley. Working together is bringing rich learning opportunities for both sets of students and a positive link with the school district. ...read more.PDF