Pictured in photo (L-R) Christopher Pizzino, Richard Santiago

Thanks to a grant from the Cleveland Foundation Lake-Geauga Fund, the Veterans Center at Lakeland Community College is hosting free hydroponic farming workshops this fall. This program is free and open to everyone and aims to promote personal growth and wellness in our community through agriculture. These workshops focus on a variety of topics, including how to use hydroponic production systems (growing without soil), agriculture-focused education, business planning and how to sell produce locally.

The first cohort of this free workshop completed in fall 2023, awarding those who completed the curriculum a certificate of completion through Central State University for the Fast Track Farming program, including a transcript of all classes completed. This certificate signifies that completers have received formal training in agricultural farming, and can be helpful in securing loans or grants in the field.

New workshops will begin again in January 2024, and will be held Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Lakeland’s greenhouse classroom located in H-Building, Room H-331.

“Part of the mission at our veterans center is to promote growth and wellness to our veteran community, their families, other military affiliates and the community at large,” says S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese, veterans center manager at Lakeland. “We’re fortunate to have this program free and available to everybody, and I urge anybody interested to contact me to take advantage of the opportunity. We’ve partnered with great local and national groups to help bring this program to life, including the Cleveland Foundation, Central State University, OD Greens, Soldiers to Sawyers Veterans Mission, Student Veterans of America and USDA.”

While hydroponics farming workshops are open to everyone, class sizes are limited. Contact S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese for more information at lakelandcc.edu/veterans.

By: Adam Continenza, Marketing & Communications Specialist