BARNWELL AG ED DEPARTMENT AWARDED HYDROPONICS GRANT
BARNWELL, SC…The Barnwell County Career Center Agricultural Education Department has been named recipient of a “Hooked On Hydroponics” grant through the National Gardening Association, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization. The grant is funded by The Grow Store in conjunction with the Progressive Gardening Association.
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| Mindy Sandifer |
“The grant will be used to purchase hydroponic equipment needed to install this unique method of gardening on our campus,” said Mindy Sandifer, Agricultural Education instructor at the center. “This was my first attempt at submitting a grant proposal and I look forward to using the funds to make hydroponics an integral part of our plant science curriculum,” she added.
Amanda Wiggins, Grants Administrator with the National Gardening Association, said the Barnwell County Career Center proposal was chosen for the award because the application demonstrated clear educational goals and commitment to helping students gain hands-on experience with the joys and wonders of gardening.
A report by Merle H. Jensen with the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Arizona, (Hortscience. Vol. 32 (6), October 1997), defines hydroponics as a technology of growing plants in nutrient solutions (water containing fertilizers) with or without the use of an artificial medium (sand, gravel, vermiculite, sawdust and others) to provide mechanical support. In combination with greenhouses, it is high technology and capital-intensive. It is also highly productive, conservative of water and land, and protective of the environment.