Vegetable Production is growing at Kishwaukee College

Linda Mlyniec, Kirkand, is pulling weeds under a brilliant blue sky. The extremely wet June in northern Illinois has given weeds an opportunity to, well, grow like weeds. “That is one thing I have learned,” she said. “Keep things weeded!” Linda shares the heat, the dirt, and the pile of unwanted weeds with many gardeners. But there is one difference: Linda is receiving college credit. This summer, the Horticulture Program at Kishwaukee College is offering the second in a series of three courses on Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production.

Instructor Rich Alde explained, “The series began in the second half of the spring semester with a course on starting the plants. This summer we are tending the gardens and harvesting. The final class will be in the fall with the final harvest and clean up of the garden space for winter.” The course was designed in response to interest from members of the local communities, where there has been an increase in vegetable gardening by both homeowners and small farm owners. The class has proven to be popular, filled to capacity with a combination of community members and horticulture students at the College.

The course, Horticulture 201, is focused on the use of proper cultural practices – like disease and insect control, fertilization and weed control – to produce and harvest crops. This summer’s class meets on Tuesdays from 9:00a.m. – 11:40a.m. from June 16 – August 11. The students will earn 1 credit hour; students taking the spring, summer, and fall sessions will earn a total of 3 credit hours, and get some delicious homegrown vegetables to take home, too. Surplus vegetables that are harvested will be shared with local food pantries and the homeless shelter in DeKalb.

Carol Bushong, retired teacher from DeKalb, also works with the DeKalb County Community Gardens and is committed to getting fresh produce, locally grown, to more people. “There are over 50 gardens around DeKalb. People are trying to form a “food hub” so that food is distributed to people in need.”

She enjoys learning gardening from the horticulture instructors at Kishwaukee College. The Horticulture Program is known for the expertise of the faculty as well as for their commitment to community involvement. Students have assisted with landscape design, floral arrangements for local fundraising events, and other activities in the community. Growing and donating produce to area families in need is a timely addition to their community work.

Erin Vobornik, Sycamore, has enjoyed learning more about growing vegetables. “I like learning the tricks for growing specific vegetables,” she said. “I think it is important for people to learn where their food comes from, to understand how to grow their own food.”

For Rich Alde, the success of leading a class through the cultivation of everything from cabbage to squash, has him making plans to expand the program. “I want to clean up an area near the green houses for berries and add a small orchard to campus,” he stated. “We have a Bee Hotel this year and I plan to add a butterfly house and maybe beehives in the future.” Looking ahead, it is clear that Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production is a class that will continue growing at Kishwaukee College.

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Photo Caption: Pictured is Erin Vobornik, Sycamore, weeding around the green pepper plants in one of the vegetable gardens at Kishwaukee College. Erin is one of the students enrolled in Horticulture 201 – Sustainable Fruit and Vegetable Production. Instructor Rich Alde is leading the students through a three-class series that began in spring and will conclude in the fall semester. The class is popular as interest in home and small farm gardening has been increasing in the local community.