ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Virginia Western Community College is offering a new hands-on course on hydroponics.

“We’re going to focus heavily on the systems that we use, water management, pests, diseases that you can have in these types of systems, and everything you would need to run these (systems) in your own home or giant commercial operation,” said Cody Thompson, course instructor.

Farm Credit of the Virginias awarded Virginia Western an Agricultural Career Enhancement Grant to make the course possible.

While traditional farming methods are needed and play a major role in feeding our communities, it comes with a fair amount of unpredictability. Weather patterns are always changing and there’s no certainty from year to year.

“Having the ability to control the environment no matter what happens, whether it’s a more harsh winter than usual, or not enough rain, or too much wind -- anything like that can be detrimental to outside crops, but, when you control the environment and protect your plants from that they’re going to be able to thrive and grow more and yield more than they would traditionally in outside environments,” explained Bryan Walke, program coordinator in the Workforce Division of VWCC.

Whether you want to learn more about hydroponics for fun or take the skill and start a business, the course Virginia Western is offering is for anyone.

The Introduction to Hydroponics course is eight sessions. The class is on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. from February 19 - April 9. Registration is $295. The deadline to enroll is Wednesday, February 12.

Click here for more information.