December 15, 2012
Durham hosting new horticulture tech program
In September, Durham College began an exciting new horticulture technician program.
Designed to meet the rapidly growing interest in contemporary landscaping, gardening and urban agriculture, the two-year program offers students new opportunities in the horticulture and landscape industries.
Landscape Ontario and members of the Durham Chapter have supported all aspects of the program development, including offering expertise and resources in the initial industry focus group and curriculum development. In addition, Landscape Ontario was actively involved in the creation of a special partnership with Parkwood National Historic Site (Parkwood).
The unique partnership with Parkwood will provide students the added benefit of studying and training at Parkwood’s renowned historic gardens and greenhouses in a living lab environment beyond regular schooling.
In exchange, the collaboration will help Parkwood support and expand its ongoing preservation program, which is designed to rejuvenate the architectural and horticultural features of its gardens; create additional horticultural jobs; and enable the college to increase placement and co-op opportunities for students.
The horticulture program offers several courses in landscaping, plant propagation, soils, arboriculture, integrated pest management, entomology and plant pathology, along with many other related subjects to prepare students and graduates with the job-ready skills to work as future employees in the horticulture and landscape sectors.
This fall 30 full-time students are enrolled, with the program held at Parkwood Estates in Oshawa. It will move to the college’s Whitby campus for the winter semester with some field trips and project time scheduled at the City of Oshawa’s greenhouses.
By September 2014, plans call for the program to be in a newly-constructed building, Centre for Food, as well as new greenhouses. Durham has announced it will continue to partner with organizations such as Parkwood and Landscape Ontario.
To learn more about the horticulture program, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/programs/horticultural-technician, or call 905-721-3000.
Designed to meet the rapidly growing interest in contemporary landscaping, gardening and urban agriculture, the two-year program offers students new opportunities in the horticulture and landscape industries.
Landscape Ontario and members of the Durham Chapter have supported all aspects of the program development, including offering expertise and resources in the initial industry focus group and curriculum development. In addition, Landscape Ontario was actively involved in the creation of a special partnership with Parkwood National Historic Site (Parkwood).
The unique partnership with Parkwood will provide students the added benefit of studying and training at Parkwood’s renowned historic gardens and greenhouses in a living lab environment beyond regular schooling.
In exchange, the collaboration will help Parkwood support and expand its ongoing preservation program, which is designed to rejuvenate the architectural and horticultural features of its gardens; create additional horticultural jobs; and enable the college to increase placement and co-op opportunities for students.
The horticulture program offers several courses in landscaping, plant propagation, soils, arboriculture, integrated pest management, entomology and plant pathology, along with many other related subjects to prepare students and graduates with the job-ready skills to work as future employees in the horticulture and landscape sectors.
This fall 30 full-time students are enrolled, with the program held at Parkwood Estates in Oshawa. It will move to the college’s Whitby campus for the winter semester with some field trips and project time scheduled at the City of Oshawa’s greenhouses.
By September 2014, plans call for the program to be in a newly-constructed building, Centre for Food, as well as new greenhouses. Durham has announced it will continue to partner with organizations such as Parkwood and Landscape Ontario.
To learn more about the horticulture program, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/programs/horticultural-technician, or call 905-721-3000.