GET QUALIFIED IN HYDROPONICS & MANAGEMENT
This hydroponics certificate qualification provides sound knowledge of horticultural principles in the culture, use and management of plants - in various production situations at supervisory and management level, or as a business operator/owner. This unique course is entirely by home study.
It provides an understanding of modern technology and its application to growing plants, with emphasis on hydroponic production. Skills obtained throughout the course will enable you to set up your own business and feel confident consulting on the use of Hydroponics.
CORE UNITS
Totalling 400 hours. All four of these modules must be studied and passed.
1. Office practices Develops basic office skills covering use of equipment, communication systems (telephone, fax, etc) and office procedures such as filing, security, workplace organisations, etc.
2. Business Operations Develops knowledge of basic business operations and procedures (eg. types of businesses, financial management, business analysis, staffing, productivity, etc) and the skills to develop a 12 month business plan.
3. Management Develops knowledge of management structures, terminology, supervision, recruitment and workplace health and safety.
4. Marketing Foundations Develops a broad understanding of marketing and specific skills in writing advertisements, undertaking market research, developing an appropriate marketing plan and selling.
STREAM STUDIES
You must complete the following three modules:
1. HYDROPONICS I
There are ten lessons as follows:
- Introduction
- How a Plant Grows
- Hydroponic Systems
- Nutrition & Nutrition management
Plant Culture- Hydroponic Vegetable Production
- Hydroponic Cut Flower Production
- Solid Media vs Nutrient Film
- Greenhouse Operation & Management
- Special Assignment
2. HYDROPONIC MANAGEMENT (Hydroponics II)
There are eleven lessons in this module as follows:
- How the Crop Plant Grows: Understanding how a plant grows in hydroponics, plant growth factors, manipulating and controlling growth, plant troubleshooting, resources, fruit set management, pollination issues, flower initiation, flower and fruit development etc.
- How to Run a Small Evaluation Trial
- Harvest and Post Harvest
- Tomatoes
- Capsicum
- Lettuce, Salad Greens and Foliage Herb Crops
Cucurbits (Cucumber and Melons)- Strawberries
- Roses
- Carnations
- Orchids
3. PROTECTED PLANT PRODUCTION
There are seven lessons in this module as follows:
- Structures for Protected Cropping
- Environmental Control
- Cladding Materials and their Properties
- Irrigation and Nutrition
Relationship between Production techniques and Horticultural practices- Harvest and Post Harvest Technology
- Risk Assessment
PROJECT - a "management in the workplace project" of 200 hrs involving approved work experience in a small business.The project specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study.
Contact ACS at admin@acs.edu.au to disucss this course with one of our tutors.
Tips for Managing a Hydroponic Farm
Growing plants in hydroponics is one thing, but operating a viable hydroponic farm is altogether another.
Commercial hydroponics is not just about setting up and operating hydroponic systems. If you are to be successful and run a viable operation you must learn to do a number of other things:
• Select the right crops to grow
• Have a workable physical layout
• Manage your staff and finances properly
• Market your produce properly.
Deciding the Plants You Should Grow
When deciding what plants to grow in a commercial hydroponics farm, consider the following:
- Ease of propagation/cost of transplants. What will it cost to get your initial plants (in time or money)? If you plan to propagate yourself, how easy are the plants to propagate? Are the plants readily available? Is the recommended planting time the same as the time of year you plan to start your operation?
- How easy are these plants to grow? Do you or your staff have the expertise to grow these varieties? Difficult plants may be more costly to grow, and more risky to get a profit from, unless you have better than average skills.
- How long will the crop take to grow? Some plants produce a crop ready to sell within months, others take many years.
- Suitability to your facilities. Do you have the right buildings, equipment and other facilities to grow the particular plants under consideration? Do you have the money and space to provide those facilities?
- Suitability of climate. What plants are most suitable to grow in your climate?
- Your environment. It is always more efficient to work with the environment rather than trying to recreate different environments.
- Are other competent growers already producing the crop you would prefer to grow? Can you establish a fair share of the market?
- Distance from potential markets. Transport is costly, and can be risky. What other alternatives are available?
- Are profits (in addition to wages) likely to be an adequate or reasonable return on your investment in terms of time and money?
- The skills of your staff. Don’t try to do what you are not skilled to do. Someone with better skills will probably do it better and cheaper.
THE ACS TEAM APPROACH
ACS was founded by John Mason in 1979 as Australian Horticultural Correspondence School.
Right from these very early times, we've always believed that the best education only comes when the student is learning from the experience of a whole range of industry experts (rather than just a single teacher).
Every ACS course is a work in progress, continually evolving, with new information being added and old information being updated by our team of internationally renowned professional horticulturists.
Over the decades more than 100 horticulture experts from across the world have contributed to these courses, bringing their individual knowledge and experiences from as wide afield as England and Spain to Australia and America.
While may colleges and universities focus on providing courses that relate only to the country where they are based, ACS has always strived to make it's courses relevant to all parts of the world; any climate, economic or cultural situation. This has been achieved by involving a large number of professionals in the course development.
When it comes to tutoring, marking papers and mentoring students, the team approach is just as strong as with our writing. ACS students have the ability to obtain advice and support from staff across the world, with horticulture tutors located in the UK, Australia (both the north and south) and New Zealand.
The ACS team approach and global focus to both course content and student support, ensures our graduates have a unique and "real world" skills set. This unique approach is highly regarded by our colleagues in horticulture.
Contributors to ACS Courses over the years have included:
John Mason -former parks director (Melton, Essendon and Heidelberg), Landscape Designer (Playgrounds and recreation Association of Victoria), Nurseryman, President Australian Institute of Horticulture (Victoria), Committee International Year of the Child (Australia), Author ove over 40 books, Editor Garden Guide Magazine, Editor Your Backyard Magazine.
Maggi Brown - Education officer, Henry Doubleday Research Association (UK), gold medal winner Chelsea Flower Show, Garden consultant.
Adriana Fraser - Horticultural Consultant, TAFE Lecturer, Project Manager - Parks and Gardens, Horticultural writer.
Iain Harrison -Garden Manager Fibremakers, Garden Consultant, Lecturer Swinburn TAFE
Katie Freeth - Manager Commonwealth War Graves (France), Horticultural Consultant (France & UK), Board member Institute of Horticulture, and International Federation Parks & Recreation Administration
Tony Bundock -Horticulture Businessman, Consultant, Head of Horticulture Dept. TAFE
Jim Davis -Horticulture Businessman, Lecturer TAFE (NSW), Principal VCAH Burnley College
Dr Lyn Morgan -author and internationally renowned hydroponics consultant (New Zealand)
Dr Valeria Astorga -horticultural consultant, lecturer (Spain, Peru, Australia)
Alison Bundock -Editor (Kangaroo Press; Southern Cross University), Technical Writer (APM), Consultant
Rosemary Davies -Horticultural concultant, journalist, media personality (Victoria)
