Green (student) thumbs: Moraine Park program focuses on hydroponics

From an article by Sharon Roznik in the Fond du Lac Reporter:

There’s a fresh smell of summer at Moraine Park Technical College — the scent of fragrant herbs, tender leaves of lettuce and stalks of bright green wheat grass.

Culinary art students are gaining green thumbs by growing their own food in Moraine Park Technical College’s new hydroponic garden.

The earthy addition to the college’s culinary arts program is meant to teach students about sustainability and using locally grown foods, said MPTC culinary arts instructor Ron Speich.

“When you look at what’s happening globally, the movement is toward fresh, whole foods. My students are learning to evaluate where products come from,” Speich said.

Gardens have been named the hottest trend in restaurants this year as more chefs involved with the local food movement decide to grow their own tomatoes, herbs and other produce.