Class Schedule 2010 

The Fairchild Farm, home to the world's best collections of mango, avocado, mamey sapote, sapodilla, canistel, jackfruit, spanish lime and abrico; the result of an intensive effort of the research scientists of the Tropical Fruit Program.

The following courses are offered in conjunction with Miami Dade College at Fairchild Farm, located at 14885 SW 248^th Street in the beautiful Redlands. The Fairchild Farm provides a tranquil and natural setting to nurture the creative spirit and inspire the artist and horticulturalist in all of us.  

  

 

 

To register call 305.258.0464 ext 309 or email lwerner@fairchildgarden.org

All classes take place at the Fairchild Farm, 14885 SW 248 St,  Homestead FL 33032

 

HORTICULTURE

  

Tropical Fruit Horticulture for South Florida- with Senior Curator of Tropical Fruit, Dr. Richard J. Campbell.

 

Living in South Florida gives us a bounty of tropical fruit, all of which you can grow on your own. Planting, pruning, propagation, pest-control, fertilizing, irrigation and general tree care for tropical fruit trees is on the agenda for this informative class. Many popular South Florida fruit trees will be covered in this class with emphasis on the king of all fruits, the mango. With the knowledge you gain, you will soon have a luscious harvest from your own fruit trees.  

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Saturday, March 20, 2010

Registration deadline: March 10, 2010                                                         

Fee: Members, $25; Non-members, $30

 

 

 Beekeeping for Beginners - with  Alfredo Corrales

 

This is designed for the individual just begining to learn honeybees and beeleeping.  The topics covered are basic to beekeeping with a focus on horticulture relationship between bees and tropical fruit trees. The course will include an overview of the basic hive structure, the honeybee colony, and the functions of worker bees, drones and queen bees. Management techniques to strengthen the colony will be covered. Saturdays, 9:00 am to 12:00  May 1, May 15 and June 5, 2010

Cost: $90.00/members   non Member $95.00

 3 sections       

 

 

 

Beekeeping Colonies - with Alfredo Corrales

This class is for those who have completed Beekeeping for beginners. This primarily hands-on workshop will teach you how to manage a beehive to produce honey, beeswax and bee pollen. Our instructor will demonstrate proven techniques for routine maintenance, annual requiring, swarm control, colony division and harvesting, as well as disease and pest control.

This class will involve some outdoor activities. Please bring a wide-brimmed hat and wear long sleeves. Also, bring appropriate clothing for cold or inclement weather.

Saturdays, 9:00 am to 12:00

October 30, November 6 and 13, 2010

Cost: $90.00/members   non Member $95.00

3 sections       

 

Growing Mangos in South Florida - with Curator of Tropical Fruit, Noris Ledesma

This course presents mango cultivation throughout in South Florida. Propagation, pruning, harvesting and handling are discussed at both the commercial and home garden level. Topics covered will include how to grow mangos, their insect and disease problems, and their many varieties. You will have the opportunity to sample fruits until the juice drips from your elbows.

 Saturday May 8, 2010;  9:00 am to 12:00

Cost: $30.00/members   non Member $35.00

1 section      

 

  

 

 

The Small Orchard Business - with with Senior Curator of Tropical Fruit, Dr. Richard J. Campbell.

Everyone dreams of having a tropical island with fruit trees. In this course we will help you to create your own fruit garden and how to produce and market commercial stock. You will learn the essentials of growing many delicious fruits that grow well in South Florida yards. If you have had problems growing a fruit tree, or plants in the past, discover tips to guarantee success. Learn about the best varieties to grow in you area and what is needed to be a successful grower.

 

Saturday May 22, 2010;  9:00 am to 12:00

Cost: $30.00/members   non Member $35.00

1 section       

 

 

           

Edible Landscaping - with Jeff Wasielewski 

Tropical fruit trees make wonderful additions to any South Florida landscape. Combine plants with lush green foliage, brifhtly colored flowers of shapes and sizes to create a low maintenance, attactive outdoor design. Get creative and intersperse your trees with other native tropicals and add a water feature or a secluded seating area. The choices are endless, but the best part comes with the harvesting of this edible landscape.

 

Saturday June 26, 2010;  10:00 am to 12:00

Cost: $30.00/members   non Member $35.00

1 section      

 

 

             

Pruning Tropical Fruits - with Erik Tietig, Vice President Pine Island Nursery 

 

Why do we prune? Come and learn how to create healthy trees by removing dead wood and awkward branches, to promote fruit and flower production, and to create beautiful trees. Learn to transform a big tree into a small one – reducing tree size results in a healthy tree. Learn about preparing trees for hurricane season.

Saturday June 12, 2010;  9:00 am to 12:00

Cost: $30.00/members   non Member $35.00

1 section        

 

 

 

Grafting and Propagation in Tropical Fruit - with Curator of Tropical Fruit, Noris Ledesma

 

Join us and learn how to make your own trees! The art of grafting is fascinating to many gardeners and this one day course aims to show participants the process from rootstocks, nursery beds, to established orchards both young and old. The class  will be spent in a practical session of whip and tongue grafting. The cost includes two trees. Materials list provided with registration.

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Fee: Members, $25; Non-members, $30

 1 section        

 

 

 

COOKING

 Mother’s Day Cooking Class - with Victoria Nodarse

 

Join us for the Cooking and Lifestyle at the Fairchild Farm for a very special Mother's Day Cooking class. Victoria will demonstrate some of her favorite recipes and share some of her tricks that make the recipes extra special! Cooking is a fun way to spend for your Mother’s Day.

 

Saturday May 1, 2010;  9:00 am to 12:00, includes fact sheets, and recipes

Cost: $30.00/members   non Member $35.00

1 section       

 

 

 

 

 

Drying Fruits and Herbs Class - with Leila  Werner                                          

Come and learn the basics of drying fruits and herbs, as well as how to make flavored vinegars with garden grown herbs & flowers. With gardens overflowing and farmers markets piled high with fresh produce why not save some of this bounty to enjoy all year?

Anyone can come - no matter your age, experience or county of residence.

Saturday June 5, 2010;  9:00 am to 12:00, includes fact sheets, and recipes

Cost: $30.00/members   non Member $35.00

1 section        

 

 

 

 

Carving fruit and vegetables – with Mr. Sang Prathiep

Learn how watermelons, pineapples and many other fruits and vegetables can be carved and combined into either elegantly simple or very elaborate center pieces or accents for your picnic table or indoor party decorations. Our food carving instructor will teach the basics of this beloved Thai art in (1) three-hour session. You will be able to make your own edible arrangements for wedding, baby shower or any occasion.

Saturdays, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

June 19, 2010

Cost: $30.00/members   non Member $35.00

1 section  

 

 

 

     

Haitian Creole with Joselle LaGuerre

 

In this introductory course you will be introduced to basic Creole language skills (listening, speaking, and reading). Student-instructor exchanges help you acquiere the vocabulary and learn structures used in commun interactions. Frequent student-to-student dialogues provide practice and build your confidence. All explanations include plenty of practical examples for using natural, everyday Creole.

Sundays June 6,  to August 26, 2010;  1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Cost: $95.00/members   non Member $99.00

1 section     

         

 

                      

ART

Botanical illustration I - with Julio Figueroa

 Learn the skills needed to craft masterpieces in the stile of botanic illustration. Inspiration will be provided by the lush, exotic atmosphere and colorful fruits of the Fairchild Farm fruit collection. The program is open to everyone, committed illustrator and enthusiastic amateur alike.

 

Saturdays, 9:00 am to 12:00

May 8, May 15 and May 22, 2010

Cost: $90.00/members   non Member $95.00

3 sections       

 

 

Botanical illustration II - with Julio Figueroa 

Students will learn how to interpret in watercolor the different botanic parts of plants. Using composition and a better develop of the techniques students will develop beautiful pieces of botanic illustrations proper to use in publications, scientific documents, or just to show the beauty of art.

Saturdays, 9:00 am to 12:00

August 21, 28 and September 4, 2010

Cost: $90.00/members   non Member $95.00

3 sections       

 

 

 

 

 

Nature Photography and the Everglades Environment  with Robert Chaplin  

 

 

This course is open to beginners and experienced photographers alike. You will go off the beaten path to photograph nature with fresh eyes as you immerse yourself into everything the location has to offer. The course includes learning about camera settings and image composition as it pertains to nature photography. There will be at least two field trips. Students will drive to the Everglades in their cars to meet with the instructor for field trips at pre-designated locations and times. Students will have to pay the Park entrance fee.

Saturdays, 8:00 am to 11:00 am

May 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19 and 26

Cost: $110.00/members   non Member $129.00

(21 Hours) 6 sections

 

        

Payments

We now accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express credit cards. Make all checks payable to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and mail to:  Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Fairchild Farm, 14885 SW 248 Street, Homestead FL 33032

Directions to the Fairchild Farm

Class Policies

Cancellations and Refunds:

Every attempt will be made to notify you regarding the status of your class. If it is necessary for Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to cancel a class due to insufficient registration, you will receive a full refund by check.

Should you choose to cancel your registration, refunds are made only at the Fairchild Farm. Please call in advance. We will notify you at least 14 days prior to a tour and 7 days prior to all other activities. A $10 service charge per class is applied to all refunds. A check will be issued within three weeks of cancellation and refund request.

Classes are NOT interchangeable. Classes may be canceled if minimum enrollment is not reached.

We hope you will be able to attend every session in a multi-session class. If you need to miss a session of class you may ask another registered student to take notes for you and collect handout material. Substitutions or transfers are not permitted. Registration fees are not prorated. If you do not attend any portion of class, your registration fee is forfeited. Refunds will not be issued to students who have attended classes, or if class has already begun.

Visitors
Space is limited and we do not have child care facilities. Please be considerate of fellow students and leave babies and children at home. Guests may enjoy visiting the Fairchild Farm while you're in class. Please do not bring guests to class.

Cell Phones
Please be considerate of others and turn off cell phones and beepers during class.

Parking
Please park in the back of the house in front of the gazebo.

Instructors

Richard J. Campbell

Richard J. Campbell is the Senior Curator of Tropical Fruit and Head of the Tropical Fruit Program at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.  A native of South Florida, Dr. Campbell cut his teeth among the exotic tropical fruit of South Florida. He draws on his years of travel and experience collecting and researching tropical fruit in Asia and the Americas to provide the latest information, quality trees and tropical fruit tastes to an enthusiastic public. He has authored over a hundred scientific and popular articles on fruit culture in the last decade, as well as, two books, Mangos: A Guide to Mangos in Florida (1992) and Tropical Mangos: How to Grow the World’s Most Delicious Fruit (2002).

Noris Ledesma

Noris Ledesma is the Curator of Tropical Fruit and Outreach Specialist for the Tropical Fruit Program at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Noris brings a tropical fruit passion and flare to her programs derived from years of first-hand experience in her native country of Colombia.  She captures the horticultural spirit in her photographs of the people, their culture and fruit, revealing their intimate ties to the land. Traveling around the world and working with growers and indigenous peoples, she has gained a knowledge and appreciation for tropical fruit.  She is a plant collector and coauthor of three books, and numerous scientific publications and popular articles. She coauthor of four books, For the Love of Mangos-India, (2008), A Quick Guide of Mangos (2005), The Exotic Jackfruit: Growing the Word’s Largest Fruit (2003); and Mangos: A Guide to Mangos in Florida (1992).

Jeff Wasielewski

 Jeff Wasielewski has taught horticulture classes for over 15 years at Fairchild and Miami Dade College. He is also a Certified Arborist with a master's degree in education. Jeff has held positions at Fairchild as a Horticulturist and as the Assistant Curator of Tropical Fruit. He currently works in the Marketing Department and is a adjunct professor at Miami Dade College.

Victoria M. Nodarse

 Victoria M. Nodarse is a bright and determined Culinarian; Victoria got her start when in high school she found a copy of Charlie Trotter’s Gourmet for Dummies book in the backseat of her brother’s car. She holds a Masters of Science in Hospitality Management from Florida International University and in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley, California. Victoria has worked with Florida International University’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden where she continues to volunteer, is currently an adjunct professor of Hospitality Management at Miami Dade College and volunteers her professional talents to non-for profit organizations such as Slow Food Miami. She hopes to one day obtain her Ph.D. in Business Administration with concentration in International Business Management from Florida International University.

Julio J. Figueroa

Julio Figueroa, born and educated in Havana, Cuba, completed Technical Drawing and Design courses at the School of Technical Drawing and the National School of Design in Havana.  He later went on to complete courses in Scientific Illustration and Feng Shui as applied to interior design.  For ten years he was the scientific illustrator at the Faculty of Biology, University of Havana. Following this post, he moved on to Cuba’s National Botanic Garden, where he was the scientific illustrator until he emigrated to the United States. Since his arrival in 2007, he has exhibited at the 2008 World Orchid Show, the 2008 Tamiami International Orchid Festival, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's Orchid Festival, and at various other venues. 

Leila Werner

Leila originally from Hawaii, came to South Florida from 1979. Through the years she developed an expertise in preparing many creative dishes using tropical fruits for friends and many notable guests in special events. Her reputation has grown with the publication of several of her articles in various cooking periodicals such as "Fine Cooking Magazine." Leila also has a talent for adapting traditional recipes using tropical fruits.

Erik Tietig 

Currently act as the Vice President of the company Pine Island Nursery & Tree Farm Inc. Erik specializes in the production of tropical fruit, nut, and spice trees, and have gained experience in plant propagation, pest and disease identification and control, sales and marketing, and small business operations. His greatest contribution to the company that he own is transitioning the business from primarily acting as a grove supplier to a wholesale and retail supplier of fruit trees to the dooryard market.

Joselle Louis LaGuerre

Born in Haiti and raised in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, Professor LaGuerre has enjoyed a little tour of the United States while earning her education and gaining her experience in teaching English. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History from Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. From there, she traveled to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in English and English as a Second Language (ESOL) from Andrews University. Her first employment opportunity took her to Pacific Union College in Angwin, California, where she taught English Composition and ESOL for five years. When she returned to the east coast, Professor LaGuerre joined Miami Dade College, where she is currently employed to teach College English and ESOL for Academic Purposes. She is also in the dissertation phase of her graduate studies at Capella University, from which she hopes to earn a doctoral degree in Education shortly.

Alfredo Corrales

Alfredo Corrales is an 8^th grade science teacher at Hammocks Middle Schools.  Outside of the classroom he spends a good portion of his time on his 5 acre farm.  With a Biomedical Engineering background along with a B.E. and M.E. in Electrical Engineering, he hopes to use his research skills to setup a self sustainable organic farm.  A key portion of his current endeavors is the keeping of several bee hives for the production of honey, wax, pollen, and propolis.  Over the last five years Alfredo has attended a couple of seminars on beekeeping, including a briefing on the state and nature of the Africanized Honey Bee.  In an effort to help his skills and understanding of the honey bee, he removes invading bee hives from peoples’ residence whenever he gets a call. 

 

Sang Prathiep

Mr. Prathiep, is a Master Carver from Thailand and has taught fruit and vegetables carving in the U.S. for 15 years. He is currently the chief carver and decorator for the Siam House restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale.

Robert Chaplin

Robert Chaplin is a local professional photographer who specializes in photographic workshop expeditions into the Everglades and natural South Florida. He is a South Florida native with an intimate knowledge of the Everglades and surrounding areas and is a group leader for the Nature Workshops. Having fifteen years of experience in nature photography and a lifetime of experience in the Everglades, Robert has combined his love for the Everglades with his passion for photography to provide his clients with a one of a kind “Everglades Experience”. Add to that, his patient teaching style and friendly demeanor and you have the makings of a workshop experience you will never forget. Few people truly experience the Florida Everglades. Join Robert on this Everglades Experience and see the River of Grass in an entirely new light.