BOTTINEAU, N.D. — The spring 2019 term just began here in the DCB Horticulture Department. We have an exciting line-up of Horticulture courses and activities related to our various department programs.
Aquaponics
This spring our students are taking courses and practicums that provide hands-on experiences in a greenhouse environment. Students taking the aquaponics program also have the opportunity to learn about hydroponics. DCB has a commercial hydroponics production system growing lettuce. The lettuce is harvested and delivered to the college’s food services. Our food service menu provides DCB students several different vegetables grown right on campus each semester. The aquaponics operation involves a warm water fish called tilapia. Tomatoes, strawberries, beans and lettuce are grown by the students taking the practicums Students work directly with fish stocking, sampling plans for fish weights and fish feed calculations, seed propagation and transplanting seedlings, plant identification, pest identification and scouting procedures and harvesting of produce, and safe working practices.Dakota College at Bottineau Natural Resources programs team up to provide students with many career opportunities in aquaponics, greenhouse production, floral and garden design, urban forestry, and wildlife and fisheries.
Floral Design and Greenhouse Technology
The Floral Design and Greenhouse Technology program is offering 6 different courses this spring term. Some of these course include Herbaceous Landscape Plants, Greenhouse Operations, Residential Landscaping, Floral Design, Garden Planning and Plant Propagation. Students will be learning different techniques and skills in greenhouse production, landscape design, and plant identification that will give them the hands-on experience they will need in their future Horticulture careers. Students will have an opportunity to attend various industry related conferences this Spring such as the ND Local Foods, Northern Plains Food & Farming, and the national MOSES Organic Farming conference held in LaCrosse, WI. Funding for student attendance of these conferences was generously provided through a USDA NIFA grant shared between DCB and Dickinson State University. Attendance of the conferences will allow students to gain experience and exposure to the Industries involved in Horticulture.
–Dakota College at Bottineau
Horticulture Department