Not many classes get to study outside or work in a green house, but Introduction to Horticulture is an exciting class that is giving students hands on learning.  Intro to Horticulture is a brand new class toChapinHigh Schoolthat deals with the study of plants and the environment taught by Mrs. Angela Broadway.

Many students have heard about this new class and think the idea of it sounds interesting.

“I think that Horticulture is going to get more students involved in the environment,” said junior Ashley Bauer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Forty two students are currently enrolled in the two classes offered this year, and Chapin is the only high school in the district to offer this class. In this class, the students will have lots to learn because the class consists of a year packed full with material.  A few things the curriculum deals with are learning about plant anatomy and physiology, plant propagation, fertilizers, hydroponics and greenhouse production.

“I like the plant identification and the application to landscaping,” says John Michael Morris, a senior.                                                                                                                                                                          

The class is also in the process of getting a greenhouse so they can further their education outside of the classroom. The greenhouse is being built in the Palmetto Woods parking lot and should be completed this fall. Once completed, the students will grow a variety of plants that eventually will be sold to raise money for the program.  The students will be able to learn in a more hands on way with the greenhouse and they will be able to grow the plants that they are learning about in class.  

“I am excited about the greenhouse; I think it will be awesome,” says Junior Carli Sims.                                                                  Other students are more interested in the useful skills they are being taught in the class.  For example, Broadway starts every class with a problem of the day.  She finds a common plant disease or lawn pest and students have to find the proper way to deal with it.

“I have an insect, disease, or a plant that will be passed and their trying to figure it out. They’re looking at it; they smell it. Some of them will even taste it- writing down some information about a particular plant.  It’s kind of fun to see what they come up with it,” said Broadway.

The students are learning so much they will be able to use in everyday life. This teaches them to use critical reasoning to distinguish between weeds, regular plants, and certain types of insects and it broadens their knowledge about plants and the environment. 

Many students are looking forward to being able to take the class next year.

“I think Horticulture sounds like a useful class and I want to try to take it,” says junior Caroline Amick.                                                                                         

Mrs. Broadway has lots of experience in the Horticulture.  She graduated with a degree in agriculture fromClemsonUniversity, and even helped to start her own landscaping company that is still functioning today.  She is helping her students not only learn about plants, but she is teaching skills that will be helpful in the landscape industry and other fields, giving the students a big advantage by taking this class.

“This class will help students be ahead of others that have never had formal horticulture experience or any class experience,” says Broadway.

The students will be able to take what they learn inside the classroom and be able to apply it to their life