Peter Alyanak

Growing & Harvesting Garlic

Gained experience in all stages of garlic production from propagation techniques to proper harvest & storage. Gave us the opportunity to get our hands dirty and grow something for chefs at the school Bistro.

Soil Testing

Ran a number of different types of soil tests to learn about various soil types, nutrient content, organic matter, and physical properties. Got a chance to test for pH levels and electrical conductivity similar to testing that needs to be done throughout the cannabis cultivation process.

Controlled Grow Room

Durham College is just now starting to utilize the controlled grow chamber on campus. A number of us horticulture students have been experimenting with the grow room since recently being given permission. This provides an introduction to controlled atmosphere growth techniques.

Aeroponics - Video

This quick video captures the humble beginnings of an aeroponics set-up that us horticulture students at Durham College are now trying to get working in the grow room as a side-project. This is an example of taking the initiative to further my education beyond the curriculum given the opportunity.

Watering

We were given a watering schedule to familiarize ourselves with the basics of watering plants properly.

Growing & Harvesting Squash

Another crop we grew in the Durham College field and harvested for student chefs at the Bistro.

Light Meter

We used these light level meters during experimentation with the production of endives. Studying light cycles was fun for me due to the prevalence in cannabis flowering.

Durham College Greenhouse - Video

A quick video showing the Durham College greenhouse that we used to practice our newfound knowledge and build our skills through experience.

Integrated Pest Management

Created an Integrated Pest Management program in the Durham College greenhouse giving us a chance to identify different insects/pest and study them under the microscope. Basic I.P.M. knowledge and management skills are key in an industry such as cannabis production.

Medical Cannabis Fundamentals for Business Professionals

I’ve not yet received this credit as the two day course is in March but I’ve registered and I will have acquired this certification before the Commercial Cannabis Production course at Niagara College this spring.

Beet Sugar Production

In our Processing Operations class we produced sugar from the sugar beets we’d grown and harvested in the Durham College field. This is a picture of halfway through the process when the sugar was still syrup. We were given experience working with unit operations and preservation techniques that will be prevalent in the industry once cannabis processing becomes regulated.

Learning Basic Coding

Creating this website has been quite an enjoyable experience. My brother took it as an opportunity to teach me basic coding so that I was able to put this website together on my own. This is a screenshot of the program I used. One key skill this displays is my ability to learn new things quickly.