May 16, 2018
Summer School Will Be in Session Soon By Tim Hodson

Are you looking for cost-effective and convenient training for your production team this summer? If you are, then you might want to check out Michigan State University Extension’s College of Knowledge.

This summer, MSU Extension’s College of Knowledge is offering five courses for growers and other personnel interested in learning about greenhouse production fundamentals.

These non-credit, pre-recorded online courses are intended for greenhouse and ornamental plant growers and others interested in learning about the fundamentals surrounding: pH and EC management, properties of growing media and their effects on plant nutrition, supplemental and photoperiodic lighting, and introductory biological control topics.

The participants will have three months to complete the course materials at their own pace.

Growers or other interested professionals can participate by signing up for $129 for each course until June 15, 2018. Students will have from June 1 through Aug. 31, 2018, to complete four of the courses.

Students taking the new Spanish Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting Course (Iluminación para Hortícola y Invernaderos) will have access to the material from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2018.

The five courses being offered this summer include:

For the 2018 summer session, there are three scholarships available for each course to those interested but do not have the financial means to take it. Growers can apply for the scholarships upon registering.

You can enroll in the courses or learn more about each topic as well as the visiting www.canr.msu.edu/online-college-of-knowledge/.

— Tim

Survey: Millennials Still Prefer Brick and Mortar for Home Improvement Purchases

Home Depot and Lowe’s are the go-to retailers for millennials when it comes to home improvement shopping. Bank of America recently surveyed 1,000 millennials about home ownership and found that they still prefer to shop at brick-and-mortar stores for their home projects. When asked what their first choice was for home improvement shopping, 64 percent said the Home Depot and 53 percent said Lowe’s. “The millennials we surveyed still overwhelmingly purchase most or all of their home improvement products in-store,” said BoA analyst Elizabeth Suzuki.

Lowe’s, Habitat for Humanity Celebrate Women’s Build Week

Last week, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s hosted the 11th annual National Women Build Week where thousands of women volunteers and Habitat homeowners came together across the country to build up their communities and gain skills in home construction. National Women Build Week encourages women to devote at least one day to help build decent and affordable housing in their communities. “Lowe’s is proud to sponsor National Women Build Week to educate, inspire and empower women to volunteer alongside other women in their community to address the critical issue of affordable housing,” said Colleen B. Penhall, Lowe’s vice president of corporate social responsibility.

Home Depot Foundation Reaches Goal Early for Veteran Contributions

Earlier this month, the Home Depot Foundation announced it has reached its goal of investing a quarter of a billion dollars in veteran-related causes by 2020 — two years ahead of schedule. Since 2011, the Foundation’s mission has been to improve the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans, with a focus on serving homeless, combat-wounded and senior veterans. In 2016, due to the growing needs of those who served, the Foundation pledged to give $250 million by 2020 to nonprofits serving veterans. Over the past seven years, the Foundation has enhanced nearly 40,000 veteran homes and facilities in more than 2,500 cities.