OLDS — Enrolment in greenhouse courses at Olds College has doubled this year, according to Daniel Chappell, manager of botanic gardens and greenhouses for Olds College.
During an interview, he said about 40 students are enrolled this year, up from 20 in average years and about 30 this past year.
So many students have enrolled so far that classes have been split into two semesters: 20 each for the fall and winter semesters.
“They’re kind of splitting it up to ease the workload a bit,” Chappell said.
He believes there are a few reasons for that surge in enrolment.
One is that there’s an increased demand for “food security” — reliable access to safe, affordable, nutritious food.
Another is that landscaping students want to have more experience in growing plants.
"There does seem to be a bit of a move in the landscape industry to have more knowledge in their workforce of kind of food plants and how plants are grown,” Chappell said.
Chappell was asked if COVID is a factor; if more people want to learn how to grow their own food due to inflated grocery bills and being unable to spend as much time in restaurants as before.
“Possibly. I think that’s probably a little early to tell,” he said. “I think if we keep an eye on the industry for the next couple of years, it’ll probably give us a better hint.”
