Summer 2020 Reflection: How Did Being a Greenhouse Operator Prepare Me For My Future Classroom?

 This summer was by far the weirdest one that I can remember. I usually have a plan before I move home to Connecticut from Pennsylvania of where I am going to work. I have held some interesting summer jobs with some of my favorites being a Lifeguard Instructor for the amusement park in my hometown and teaching horseback riding lessons to "high risk" children. 

This year was very different since many places were not open due to COVID and I came home earlier than I thought. I was blessed to be able to find an internship that pushed me out of my comfort zone of the lake and the farm that ultimately gave me the opportunity to become a better educator in the process. 

Where was my internship?

 I was blessed to find an internship with Moscarillo's Garden Shoppe in Torrington,Ct. This nursery has 4 large greenhouses 2 tropical greenhouses, an outdoor nursery, a floral design shop and a gift store. We grow mostly everything on site in the maternity greenhouse and then push the plants out into the main floor for sale. We also have a sister store in West Hartford,Ct that is quit larger. 

What did my day look like?

The cliental this summer was mainly our New Yorkers looking to change up their landscapes at their Connecticut residency for the summer. I usually met with customers to help them design their landscapes with a variety of plants including trees, shrubs, perennial grasses/flowers and annuals. Most of the time my clients had no idea what they wanted or what plants would even grow well in the environments that they had. It was my job to educate them on certain plants and then help them design a beautiful area for their home. 

I also worked behind the scenes watering, pruning, organizing the sale floor,

The main sale floor at Moscarillo's Torrington

overall caring for the plant as well as propagating plants for next year.. I learned about about wrapping trees in the storms to keep them safe from the wind and which plants needed more water than others. I also assisted with making flower arrangements and dish gardens for orders. 

How does this experience connect to agriculture education?

This experience reiterated that not everything I teach has to be done in the 4 walls of a classroom. Every day I was working with clients to teach them something new and none of that occurred in a classroom. I would not just recommend a plant or a fertilizer to someone, I would explain the why behind they should be using something over the other. I had 15 soils to pick from at some point so, the why I was suggesting one over the other I felt was important to the customer and for us as a business to share. Being able to clearly communicate the science behind what was happening to the plant and in the greenhouse is something I will miss doing as part of this internship. 

I also had a very basic knowledge of plant science before starting this internship. I wanted to learn more about greenhouse production. After this summer, I can now recognize different trees, flowers and shrubs, compare different types of soils, preform a soil test, and so much more. I gain a ton of valuable content knowledge. I look forwards to continuing my internship through the winter as we prepare to fill the greenhouse with mums, poinsettias and Christmas trees/wreaths!