WOODBURY — In Nonnewaug’s greenhouse, many students spend class periods identifying and evaluating cut flowers, making arrangements and various floral designs, and learning the ins and outs of the horticulture industry.
For those attending, the group trip to Long Island from April 3-5 was an opportunity to gain first hand experience in situations and facilities, and see these skills being utilized professionally.
“The trip was [of] a lot of value because of the different horticulture businesses and industries that we were able to see,” said horticulture teacher Eric Birkenberger.
“I went on the trip because I thought it’d be a fun opportunity to be with friends and learn about the industry, because I’m not exactly sure what I want to [after high school],” said junior Katelyn Burrier, who takes Birkenberger’s class along with veterinary science. “I’m just trying to get all the experience I could.”
The trip featured a number of different sites.
“It was quite a mix from retail garden centers, to turf and sod farms, and Cornell Cooperative Extension and research facility,” Birkenberger said.
The locations visited were meant to offer students a variety and insight into different opportunities and aspects the horticulture industry includes.
“My favorite part was probably the botanical garden,” Burrier said. “I liked that it was kind of like a self-tour a little bit; you could see all the stuff. They had so many places to take pictures, and I thought it was really pretty. I also liked when we went to the turf. I thought that was really interesting.”
“It hit on a lot of different topics in horticulture and I think the lessons learned by the students were super valuable, It’s not just specifics about the content there is,” Birkenberger explained, noting that these skills translate beyond the horticulture industry. “The things people had to say about what was important, what they look for in employees, [is extremely valuable for students.]”
Burrier said she’s not sure where horticulture fits into her career plans but said she’s grateful for the experience.
“I don’t know if it’s something I would want to do [in college] but I thought it was cool to learn the little that I did, because it could definitely help me just with experiences,” said Burrier. “If I want to have a garden or do something in my backyard, it’s a good thing to know.”
“It was all around a good trip. For me, the best part was between the sod farm, and I’m a big greenhouse guy, so the big commercial greenhouse was the best part,” said Birkenberger, “but the other ones were also very interesting.”
