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#LeafyGreens101: Cultivate ’19 Hydroponics Session

Hydroponic leafy green production can present commercial growers with exciting opportunities. New crop varieties, greater control, improvements in quality, consistency and yield, and year-round production are just some of the many benefits. But it can be intimidating to get started in hydroponics. What crops best suit your market? What system is right for your space? How do you scale the system you already have?

Whether you’re thinking of getting into hydroponics or simply want to improve your leafy green production, the “Dream Team” can help. 

#LeafyGreens101 at Cultivate ’19

Join us at Cultivate ’19 for Leafy Greens 101: How to Start and Optimize Your Hydroponic Production. Hear how Thiel’s Greenhouses, Dry Hydroponics and A.M.A. Horticulture turned an old ornamentals greenhouse into a modern leafy green production, and learn best practices for growing leafy greens, no matter the size or style of your greenhouse.

This Cultivate ’19 education session will take place on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in room A213.

Register for Cultivate’19 and add Leafy Greens 101 to your Cultivate show planner

In this session, attendees will learn about:

– Different types of hydroponic production
– What to consider when getting started in hydroponics
– Case Study: Converting an ornamentals greenhouse into leafy green production
– How to optimize and scale existing leafy green production 
– Opportunity to ask questions and network 

Meet the Dream Team

In early 2019, members of Dry Hydroponics and A.M.A. joined Nadine Stielow in Bruderheim, Alberta to install a new leafy greens system at Thiel’s Greenhouses in just three days. She dubbed this group the “Dream Team” and now they’re taking their show on the road.  

– Nadine Stielow, Owner, Grower and Operations Manager, Thiel’s Greenhouses
– Maurice van der Knaap, Owner, Dry Hydroponics 
– Shawn Mallen, Manager, Hydroponics & Manufacturing, A.M.A. Horticulture Inc. 

Speaker Bios

Nadine Stielow
Owner / Grower – Thiel’s Greenhouses and Fresh Food

Nadine Stielow is the owner, grower, and operations manager of Thiel’s Greenhouses in Alberta, Canada, having purchase the rural, one-acre facility in 2010. With almost ten years of experience as a ‘greenhouser’, Nadine loves everything about the industry (‘cept aphids!) and embraces the dynamics of small business with a passion. Producing spring ornamentals, she is strongly committed to sustainable and clean growing and is on a constant quest to learn, teach, share and promote excellence. Her current project is the expansion of the business to include a hydroponic facility, growing healthy fresh food for local consumers. 

In 2014, Nadine was awarded the AGGA Greenhouse Grower of the Year and in 2016 she was honored with the Fort Saskatchewan International Women’s Day award for Entrepreneurship. Her passion for all things green, healthy living, educating others and community partnerships is forefront in both her business and her life. Nadine lives on her 6th generation farm sharing life’s adventures with her family. She enjoys the outdoors, running and singing to her plants!

Shawn Mallen 
Manager, Hydroponics and Manufacturing, A.M.A. Horticulture Inc.

Shawn Mallen is the Manager of Hydroponics and Manufacturing at A.M.A. Horticulture Inc. He works with customers to find hydroponic solutions for tomato, pepper, cucumber, eggplant, berry, leafy green and organic crops. When a solution doesn’t exist, Shawn works closely with customers and suppliers to design and implement custom solutions that suit the grower’s unique needs. In his role, Shawn works with a large number of European companies and introduces their products to the Canadian and U.S. markets. He regularly visits suppliers in Europe, bringing knowledge and innovation home to A.M.A. and its customers.

Since 2007, Shawn has been expanding A.M.A.’s hydroponics business, and has brought significant horticultural expertise to the A.M.A. team. Shawn has more than 20 years of greenhouse experience, ranging from cut flowers, potted and holiday crops, bedding plants, vegetable propagation and production in the capacity of Grower and General Manager. He has an understanding of crop planning and greenhouse design, and expertise in urban agriculture and organic growing. Shawn received his diploma in Agriculture Business from the University of Guelph.

Maurice van der Knaap
Owner, Dry Hydroponics

Maurice van der Knaap is the Founder and Owner of Dry Hydroponics. Educated as an industrial designer and with a family background in horticulture, Maurice van der Knaap has a unique combination of skills and know-how that has helped him create innovative solutions in the greenhouse industry.

Maurice spent years selecting and testing several cultivation systems for growing leafy greens in the Netherlands, but realized a solution was needed for high-quality production. In 2009, he used his experience to generate the intellectual property for Dry Hydroponics, now a worldwide company. Dry Hydroponics serves a wide range of growers in the greenhouse industry.

Don’t forget to visit A.M.A. in booth #2803 during the show!