Protected Cropping Australia Conference and Award

 

 We have just completed a two and a half day term at this year's PCA Conference in Melbourne. The conference was a fantastic event and allowed for some great networking and discovery of new ideas and concepts.

The conference is run every two years and part of the program includes a gala dinner and awards ceremony.

This year we were delighted to be awarded the prestigious Industry Training Award. This award recognises all the hard work that the team at Chisholm have been doing in developing training solutions for the industry.

 

Glasshouse Manager Tony Bundock with the PCA award

The conference itself featured many prominent industry players including overseas speakers such as Andy Lee and Stuart Lambie from Grodan.

Andy Lee gives his informed opinion on the use of Grodan substrates

Stuart Lambie gave great information on moves towards sustainability

This morning the delegates are participating in industry site visits and will be visiting Chisholm as one of the tours. More details tomorrow!

Window on the world.....

 

As part of the technology that we can utilise within the Chisholm Greenhouse, we have a video camera that allows us to both record video and take pictures.

The camera is a high quality piece of equipment and also allows us to zoom in to individual plants and areas of the greenhouse.

The video we have posted today will give you an idea of it's capability and also give you a closer look at the new plants. You will also see the crop strings that are in place and awaiting tying on to the plants.

We are also hoping to look at having a 'live stream' from the camera so that you can see what's going on at any one time.

Enjoy the view!

Back in action.........

 

Today saw  plenty of activity in the greenhouse as we established our new crop with our partners in the Living Proof Centre - De Ruiter seeds.

This has seen some 30 different Tomato varieties being established and will provide a great resource for growers to visit, to see a range of De Ruiter varieties growing in Australian conditions.

Our crops also have a duel role in that they provide the green life material for all of our training courses and give our students the opportunity to learn and hone their skills in crop management and care.

Today's planting saw Chisholm staff and students working alongside De Ruiter staff in establishing the crop - a great days effort!

 

Staff and students get set to plant up the greenhouse -  complete in hygiene gear!

 

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Sneak peek of our new planting...............

On Friday we will be planting out our larger Compartment - 2 - of the greenhouse. Our planting has been delayed due to some complications with the propagation of the crop, but with those issues all resolved by Danny and the team at Trandos Hydroponic Growers, we are set to move ahead.

The crop will be forming the larger part of the De Ruiter Living Proof centre, and will be showcasing many varieties of tomatoes.

Today the plants completed their long journey from Perth and arrived at our Cranbourne location. As soon as the crop is in place we will be bringing you the some further pictures.

 Journey's end for our new 'babies'

 Glasshouse manager Tony Bundock and 

technician, Sara Nour sort out the jigsaw of varieties

 

Hard to believe these small plants will soon be producing 

fruit in around 8 weeks time.

Protected Cropping Australia Conference

The Protected Cropping Association Conference is happening in Melbourne, starting on Sunday the 28th of July. 

It's a great event to discover the latest developments in the commercial hydroponic industry, and Glasshouse Manager - Tony Bundock, and staff member - Colin Bednarz, will be there at the Chisholm stand. 

The public day is on Sunday afternoon. Come along and say G'day!

We are featured in Hortidaily again!

The National Precision Growing Centre; 

Australia: eGlasshouse system trains students to monitor crop growth and environment, online

The $1.2 million Controlled Environment Horticultural Training unit at Chisholm Institute of TAFE, Cranbourne is a world class facility and the only one of its kind in Australia and the Southern hemisphere. Now known as The National Precision Growing Centre, the CEH training unit is designed to deliver industry training locally, nationally and globally. 

The crops that are produced in the greenhouse are used as industry based trials, and ultimately are marketed through wholesale outlets. Some of the product is also put to use in the Chisholm Hospitality department’s training kitchens, giving CEH students the opportunity to track produce from point of growing to final consumption.

The state-of-the-art technology for the training facility was supplied by Powerplants and AIS Greenworks. On top of that Priva, a key supplier of Powerplants, has entered into a training agreement with Chisholm to support the sustainability of the technology within the facility.

As Chisholm Horticulture teacher Tony Bundock said: “By using the latest equipment from the world’s leading suppliers of horticulture technology, we’ve created a facility that will give students the opportunity to develop cutting edge skills and will also act as a flagship for the controlled environment horticulture industry in Australia”.

Very recently Chisholm, in cooperation with Powerplants, set up eGlasshouse system which allows students to monitor the crop growth and the greenhouse environment online. With the eGlasshouse students can also complete the theoretical part of their training from wherever they want.

The facility is also used as a showcase for the newest CEH techniques and technology. In a normal week, there are around three visits from student groups and from other training institutions, plus visits of growers and community groups. Encouragement of these visits are vitally important to the industry since the young people can see the whole range of careers they can pursue in the field, which could have a positive effect on the industry.

For more information about courses and programs contact Chisholm on 1300 244 746,enquiries@chisholm.edu.au or visit www.chisholm.edu.au/glasshouse. 

For any enquiries about horticultural issues, please contact Powerplants +61 (0)3 8795 7750, sales@powerplants.com.au or visit www.powerplants.com.au.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=z-BD7wd8l0M

Publication date: 7/3/2013