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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 9, 2006 Phoenix High School sophomore Jolissa Smith helps label plants in the greenhouse at her school. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) LEARNING IN BLOOM By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Standing in front of a blooming curtain of multi-colored flowers, junior Abigail Carroll gently tucks a seedling into a small pot of soft soil in the greenhouse at Phoenix High School. "I never thought I would be interested in a career in plants until I got involved in the Future Farmers of America and this horticulture class," said Abigail, who is now considering a profession in botany or ecology. "I like it. It's relaxing." And rewarding in other ways: The top agricultural commodity in Oregon is greenhouse and nursery products, valued at $817.6 million per year, according to the Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service. The demand for skilled workers in greenhouses and nurseries is growing faster than the state's public-school and university systems can keep pace. "There is a huge demand right now for management and middle management in the state of Oregon for viniculture, nurseries, fruit packing houses and organic food production," said Anita Azarenko, horticulture department head at the Oregon State University in Corvallis. Yet in some public schools, the focus on reading, math and test results has nudged horticulture out of the picture. "If greenhouse and nursery products are where the money is being made and kids are not being educated about it, they're missing a huge boat," said Kristin Kostman, horticulture teacher at Crater High School. While Jackson County boasts strong horticulture programs at Crater, Eagle Point and Phoenix high schools, Southern Oregon's largest school district, Medford doesn't offer horticulture to the general high school student body. The only program in the Medford district is paid for by a grant from the Cow Creek Tribe and is restricted to special-education students at North Medford High School. McLoughlin Middle School had a booming horticulture program until 2004, when the school administration decided to prune it from the class schedule to allow more time for there hasn't been much room for a large number of exploratory classes," said Amy Tiger, principal of McLoughlin. "The program made up money because the students were able to sell plants, but if you keep that, you have to get rid of something else." Phoenix High School offers classes in horticulture, aquaculture, landscape and greenhouse management as well as animal science. Greenhouse sales of flowers, tree seedlings and vegetables generate about $4,500 per year, all of which goes back into the program. The Crater High School horticulture program, with an enrollment of more than 200 students, sold about $8,000 in plants last weekend at its spring sale. Prospect and Rogue River also offer similar programs. Horticulture on a smaller scale is popping up at some elementary and middle schools as the Oregon market shines its light on wine grapes, organic produce and community farms. The Jackson County Master Gardeners Association recently awarded grants to Pinehurst and Griffin Creek elementary schools, Hazel Middle School and Butte Falls High School to start greenhouses or gardens. "Interest is steadily increasing in linking kids back to healthy, nutritious food and knowing how to grow it," Azarenko said. "Farm-to-school programs are emerging across the country." Oregon State University offers about 20 scholarships specifically for students choosing a major in horticulture. Other groups, such as the Oregon Nurseries Foundation, also give out a host of scholarships for the study of horticulture. Awaiting students trained in horticulture are jobs in floral arrangement, land management, golf turf management, landscaping, plant genetic engineering and retail management, among others. Some require a higher degree than high school; others do not. "The kids in the program could walk in and get a job at a flower shop right out of high school," said Rachel Bradley, horticulture teacher at Phoenix High School. Is it gas or gold? Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy