May 11, 2007

Learning Opportunities Offered At TechShopSource: Southern Nursery Association

TechShop is a partnership between the Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) and the Southern Nursery Association (SNA) and takes place just before the SNA Forum. This year’s SNA Forum is set for Aug. 9-11 and TechShop is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 8. The educational series will include six tracks of seminars: floriculture, landscape, production, retail, pests and diseases. There will also be a safety course presented in Spanish for the Latino workforce.

Highlights for each track are listed below:

Floriculture. “Ready For Fall Annuals” by Bodie Pennisi, “Soilless Mixes, Fertilizers and Testing” by Hugh Poole and “Efficient Greenhouse Irrigation. How Much Water Do Plants Need?” by Marc Van Iersel.

Landscape. “What’s New In Shrubs” by Donna Heaton and Mike Sikes, “Trees For Zero Lot Line Properties” by Keith Mickler and “Fall Is For Planting – Are Your Employees Ready?” by Todd Hurt and Wayne Juers.

Production. “A Review Of Trends In Alternative Energy For Greenhouse And Nursery Owners” by Forrest Steglin and Paul Thomas, “Container And System Choices And Their Impact On Irrigation Efficiency” by Richard Beeson and “Fertilization & Irrigation: What We Think We Know” by Tom Yeager.

Retail. “Hot Tropicals” by Bodie Pennisi, “Falling For Ornamental Grasses” by Mack Thetford and ” How To Go Green In Your Garden Center” by Suzanne Wainwright.

Pests and diseases. “Preventing Diseases In Nurseries And Landscapes” by Jean Williams-Woodward and “Solving Late-Season Insect Problems” by Will Hudson. Safety Course. Pesticide Applicator Safety and Worker Safety.

If you are interested in attending this year’s TechShop, contact Chris Spragg at chris@sna.org or (770) 953-3311.