Discover how you can extend your gardening season all year round through the use of hydroponics. McHenry County College's latest Experts and Insights educational speaker series, "Introduction to Hydroponics," will explore this soilless method of growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, and other small fruits and illustrate how hydroponic systems can be easily adapted for at-home use. The session will be presented virtually via Zoom at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20.
"For many people in the world, hydroponics and aquaponics are the solutions to growing fresh vegetables and herbs where the soil is, at best, of poor quality," said Rich Tobiasz, a horticulture and agriculture instructor at MCC who will lead the session. "It's also great for those who want to accomplish several tasks at once, including growing local produce year-round or acting as a food source for city food deserts."
The session is ideal for both home gardeners and those who might be interested in taking the formal course on hydroponics offered at MCC in the Fall semester.
Tobiasz has a master of science in crop science from the University of Illinois and is a volunteer Master Gardener for the U. of I. Extension. He teaches horticulture and agriculture courses at MCC, where he introduces hydroponics as a method of growing greens, herbs, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. He regularly gives tours of the MCC greenhouse, including the hydroponic showcase. Tobiasz lives on a small organic vegetable farm in Spring Grove. The session is free and open to the public, but registration is required. A Zoom link will be sent by 5 p.m. on the day of the event.
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