Thursday 30 May 2013

Open Day keeps us busy!

We have a unique situation in that we not only offer people opportunities to train for the commercial greenhouse crop industry, but we also act as a visitor centre for many people who want to see how commercial crops are grown.

Our Open Days allow both potential students and interested visitors the chance to see what happens at te national Precision Growing Centre.

Today we welcomed several groups of school based students as part of our Open Day activities, including a group of students from Elizabeth Murdoch College. This visit was facilitated by Jake Frecklington of Rural Skills Australia as well as College staff members to capitalise on the Open Day.

The students heard about how the glasshouse was built and the systems that operate, before putting on their overshoes and tyvek overcoats to conform with our hygiene protocols. Once inside the crop area the students were shown the two separate crops that are growing, with one Tomato crop having around 20 days left of its life, while the other crop is becoming well established as it heads in to the Winter.

For many of the students this was the first time they had ever seen commercial crops growing in a greenhouse environment.

With social media playing such a large part in peoples lives today, there was also a rush to 'like' the greenhouse on the National Precision Growing Centre facebook page by the students!, as well as an opportunity to look at our blog. The day was promoted as a 'Horticulture Taster' day so it was only fitting that the students were able to try out some of our fresh tomatoes before they left.

 Staff member Tony Bundock explains how the irrigation system works

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