On a cold Thursday in Cincinnati students at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy in Over the Rhine received an unusual lesson. Dan Divelbiss, Chief Growing Officer, from Waterfields in Lower Price Hill gave a presentation on Aquaponics.
Through the 4-H Agri-Science in the City program the students at Rothenberg have learned about the diversity of agriculture and how agriculture plays a role in nearly every industry. Food isn’t just something that we want, it’s something that we need, and the students from Rothenberg have experienced food in a variety of ways. Through the work of the Rooftop Garden program at Rothenberg, the students have planted seeds and watched their fledgling seedlings turn into strong plans. In their regular science curriculum the students have learned about life cycles and how everything is interconnected.
When Dan came to give his presentation, the students were immediately mesmerized by the idea that you can grow something on water. They watched intently as the system was demonstrated and explained to the students. The students answered Dan’s questions and came up with their own questions.
The students are now looking forward to what they have learned from Dan and making their own aquaponics system for their classroom.
Dan was happy to give the presentation to the students and looks forward to providing this opportunity to other youth. Dan explained during the lesson that he previously attended a workshop by the OSU Extension South Centers on aquaponics and used what he learned in that lesson to improve the systems at his facility.
If you want to know more about 4-H Agri-Science in the City in Hamilton County contact: Tony Staubach, staubach.9@osu.edu.