Cabrillo’s horticulture students turn their attention to organic food production methods

Peter Shaw shows the root structure of an organic lettuce crop grown with aquaponics at the Cabrillo College Horticulture Department. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian).

APTOS — High above the hustle and bustle of college life, Cabrillo College student Max Laddon is preparing for a bumper crop of micro greens in one of the horticulture department’s hilltop labs.

Using a vacuum seeder, Laddon meticulously drops seeds the size of dust particles into a black growing tray.

The work requires a steady hand and good eyesight, and Laddon, who oversees the department’s crops of leafy greens and herbs, relishes the work.

“I’m a visual person and like to see things instead of just read about it — or being told,” Laddon said.

Previously at UCSC pursuing an economics degree, Laddon is now studying organic agriculture at Cabrillo College where he works as a student assistant in the horticulture department, which he calls “awesome.”



For the complete article see the 11-22-2012 issue.

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