Aquaponic Workshops Offered by Industry Leaders, Nelson and Pade

Montello, WI, USA (Vocus) May 5, 2010 -- The 2010 aquaponic workshop offerings from Nelson and Pade, Inc. (http://www.aquaponics.com), Montello, WI, provide a great mix of options for anyone interested in learning about aquaponics in a hands-on environment. Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. In aquaponics, you grow fish and plants together in one integrated, soilless system. The fish waste provides a natural fertilizer for the plants and the plants help to purify the water the fish live in. Aquaponics produces safe, fresh, natural fish and vegetables.

There are six remaining aquaponics workshops (https://www.aquaponics.com/workshops.php) scheduled in 2010, ranging in length from 2 – 3 ½ days. Each workshop is organized so that participants spend the mornings in a lively, interactive classroom session and afternoon sessions in Nelson and Pade, Inc.’s demonstration greenhouse, where course attendees see, learn and experience the operation of fully-functional aquaponic systems in a controlled environment greenhouse. Hands-on activities that workshop attendees participate in include weighing, feeding and harvesting the fish, seeding, transplanting and harvesting plants, water quality testing and filter maintenance.

With over 30 years of experience in aquaponics between them, Rebecca Nelson and John Pade, (https://www.aquaponics.com/about/keypeople.php) who host and teach the workshops, bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for aquaponics to these fun and inspiring workshops. A 2009 workshop attendee, Paul Phelps from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, commented, “You both should be commended for your years of services to such a worthwhile cause. It takes courage, passion and conviction to change the world and its clear to me that you posses all three."

Recent workshop attendee, Navid Foroughi from Huntsville, Alabama shared “The training was a great balance of sitting and listening to hands on learning and self observation. I appreciate your candor and frankness about the complexity and simplicity of starting an aquaponic system.”

The next workshop, which covers Aquaponics and Controlled Environment Agriculture, will take place June 3-4, 2010. Additional workshop dates (https://www.aquaponics.com/workshopsschedule.php) for 2010 include: July 22-23-24, August 20-21, September 29 thru October 2, November 5-6, and December 9-10-11.

All 3 and 3 ½ day workshops feature a special guest lecturer and a tour of a commercial aquaponic greenhouse. The September 29 thru– October 2, 3 ½ day In-Depth Aquaponics and Controlled Environment workshop will feature special guest, Dr. James Rakocy, world-renown aquaponics research scientist and director of the Agriculture Experiment Station, University of the Virgin Islands.

Steven Matthews, Muskogee, Oklahoma attended Nelson and Pade, Inc.’s April, 2010 workshop and had this to say about the experience, “Thank you for creating a learning environment that was fun and relaxed. I have been to many conferences during my career as an educator, and this was one, if not the best I have ever attended.”

Nelson and Pade, Inc. is also organizing an extended stay learning program which will begin this fall with 1 month and 3 month sessions. In addition to aquaponics training, Nelson and Pade, Inc. offers aquaponic systems and growing supplies, project planning and consulting.

For more information, please visit www.aquaponics.com or call Nelson and Pade, Inc. at 608-297-8708.

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