General Course Information

 

Our Course Goal:

Our goal is to familiarize you with the concepts and skills required to operate a greenhouse. True management skills take years to acquire, but this course should give you an edge when applying for jobs where working with a greenhouse structure is part of your job. It is also our intention to facilitate within each student an appreciation of the business side of greenhouse operations, including labor, scheduling, marketing, environmental issues and profitability. As part of this course, you will learn to schedule and grow poinsettias, one of the most difficult crops to grow, and one requiring a high quality product for successful marketing. You will also learn how to grow pansies, as this is one of the important fall crops in the south. We will visit commercial greenhouses, learn how to calculate heating and cooling requirements, how to calculate and deliver fertility, manage soil nutrition, and even develop a business plan. This course is a significant amount of work, but when you successfully complete the assignments and exams, you will have gained sufficient knowledge to begin a career in this field.

 

Attendance:

You are expected to attend all class and laboratory sessions. Full participation in classes, laboratory periods and examinations is expected of all students; instructors may use reasonable academic penalties commensurate with the importance of the work missed because of unexcused absences. Attendance will not be taken in Hort4050, but quizzes will be given each Monday during the semester to encourage course participation.

 

Discussion:

Traditional lectures are not always exciting, but much of the information contained in greenhouse management requires instructor explanation. My goal is to present you with information, then discuss how the information can be utilized. Questions and comments always are encouraged, and some exercises/classroom experiences will require structured discussion, e.g. role-playing!!! (How many times does "e.g." appear in the course handout you received the first day of class? That could make a good quiz question...).

 

Laboratory Safety:

To ensure safety during laboratory sessions, various rules and procedures must be followed. These will be discussed during the first laboratory session.

 

Academic Integrity:

Scholarly activity is marked by honesty, fairness, and personal integrity. When you submit your name on an assignment, test, quiz, etc., it implies to me that you are providing work that you undertook, and/or answers that you decided upon, and not someone else's work. A scholar does not take credit for someone else's work, or take advantage of others, or behave in such a manner to frustrate or distract from the learning experience of others. The violation of these principles is deemed academic dishonesty and will be handled according to the procedures outlined University of Georgia Conduct Code.. Simply put: cheating or class disruption will not be tolerated because it is wrong!

 

Special Needs Students:

Students requiring special assistance because of visual, hearing, or motor-skill disabilities should contact me upon registering for the class so that we can accommodate your needs. Should you have any medical conditions that you personally feel I should know about, you may let me know at the onset of class also.

Counseling Assistance:

It is quite common for students to "feel the pressures" of the academic setting. If at any time during the semester you feel as though some advice or discussion would assist you with stress, emotional or educational difficulties, please feel free to contact me. I am always open to talking to students, or to refer you to the proper counciling service at UGA if that is an option that you feel more comfortable in selecting.

Return to: Home Page