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Date: 5/2/2023
PALMER — The horticulture program at Pathfinder Vocational Regional Technical High School will again host its annual plant sale.
The plant sale will take place in the back of Pathfinder near the school’s three greenhouses on Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and continue Monday through Friday, May 8-12, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Horticulture teacher and department head Lynn Dupuis added that the sale will go on until the plants run out and people should attempt to visit the first couple of days.
“This event has been going on long before me and I have been here for five years,” Dupuis said, “We have people who come every year and they can’t wait for it. Last year we had lines out the door and we almost emptied everything out within the first three, four days. People should come right away.”
There are three greenhouses located at Pathfinder that will be filled with thousands of plants along with some fresh vegetables.
Dupuis added, “We grow three full houses. People are shocked when they see how full it is.”
The money raised goes into the horticulture revolving fund and is used for equipment and materials for various plant sales throughout the year along with a trip for the students to learn more about the art, science, technology and business of plant cultivation.
Although the money raised from the sale is beneficial to the department, Dupuis said that the students gain much more from the plant sale.
“They learn everything there is to know about running a business. They could, if they get into it, they could actually go out of here, get themselves a greenhouse and start a little business without a problem,” Dupuis said.
Students begin focusing on the plant sale as early as January and learn how to seed, make cuttings, maintain the plants and how to run a business, according to Dupuis.
She added that with the upperclassmen, she talks about how and where to start a business along with loans, licenses and how to run a greenhouse.
Dupuis said she has had plenty of students hired by landscapers or local nurseries and some who have even started their own business.
Dupuis said, “Anybody who has places like this that are looking for students, they should come and look at our students. They learn a lot and are taught to water the plants, maintain them. We have some kids who are good at it and some potential good employees.”