Learn Greenhouse Production Tips at Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference
1/11/08
Contact: Laura Probyn
517-432-1555, ext. 171
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Producing crops in passive solar greenhouses can create a year-round crop, providing growers with a continuing, consistent product for restaurant, institutional, direct-to-consumer and other markets. Learn the basics of establishing a passive solar greenhouse production system during the ninth annual Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference, Jan. 26 at Grayling High School.
Adam Montri, an academic specialist with the Michigan State University (MSU) Student Organic Farm in the Department of Horticulture and the Hoophouse Project Manager for Michigan Food and Farming Systems, will discuss passive solar greenhouse site selection and orientation, structure size, construction materials and costs, ventilation and balancing light and warmth.
In a separate presentation, MSU professor of horticulture John Biernbaum will discuss crop variety and selection for passive solar greenhouses and management practices for greenhouse production, including crop rotation, spacing, soil management, and light and temperature variations and how they affect production.
Other speakers include MSU faculty members and Extension educators and specialists, farmers and other entrepreneurs.
The registration fee is $45 for the first person from a farm and $30 for each additional participant if received before Jan. 18. After that date, both fees increase by $15, and lunch cannot be guaranteed. The fee includes lunch (vegetarian option available) and handouts.
To register, call the Antrim County MSU Extension office at 231-533-8818 or visit www.msue.msu.edu/antrim.
The Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference is sponsored by GreenStone Farm Credit Services; WCMU Public TV and Radio; northern Michigan MSU Extension county offices; Project GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Economic and Environmental Needs), the state’s plant industry initiative at MSU; the C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at MSU; and the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance.
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