Hydroponics Training

On Thursday 13th March 2025 a Hydroponics Training was held in the parish of St. Andrew for 4hers. The training was facilitated by Mr. Kendel Simon and assisted by his wife Mrs. Simon at his hydroponic farm. This activity was a collaboration with the Climate Smart Agriculture and Rural Enterprise Program (SAEP) and Mr. Simon who brought a very practical and interactive hydroponics introduction training for the 4Hers for 5 primary schools in the St. Andrew area.

Forty-six (46) participants were in attendance including (6) 4H teachers, thirty-one (31) 4H students and eight (SAEP staff along with two (2) 4H officers from MOAL. The schools that were present were Paraclete Government School, Scared Heart R.C School (Tivoli), St. Mary’s R.C School (La Fillette), Holy Cross R.C School (Munich), St. Matthew’s R.C School (Birchgrove). The students were engaged in a lively discussion with Mr. Simon, some of the questions posed to Mr. Simon were as follows; what is the ratio of fertilizer used per gallon? Is the produce from the hydroponics system taste different from soil grown?

The 4Hers got the opportunity to help Mr. Simon with mixing the nutrient for the hydroponics, testing, and planting lettuce seedlings in the system.