Home

<< Previous   of   Next >> Kevin Nortz / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Aubrey Torres (left), 16, prepares for the Snohomish High School horticulture program's annual plant sale.   ADVERTISEMENT   Annual spring plant sale 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, from April 30 through May 31, closed from May 14 to May 17, Snohomish High School greenhouse, 1316 Fifth St., Snohomish   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 Snohomish students apply the science, sell the plants, practice marketing By Andy Rathbun Herald Writer In the coming weeks, after class lets out, students will hang around Snohomish High School to sell plants. The after-school activities are nothing new for those in the horticulture program. Plant science teacher Mike Hougan said the sale has been going on for about 60 years. Starting Wednesday, students in the school's three plant science courses will work at the spring plant sale, which is open four days a week. The sale is part of the course curriculum. Students grow the plants during class and must work at least five days at the sale. "We're teaching job-related skills, being able to be punctual along with knowledge of the plants and care," Hougan said. "Sometimes I think the most important part of it is being able to make a commitment and follow through with it." The plants are priced competitively, ranging from about 75 cents to $4. Money generated from the sale goes back to the plant science courses, paying for school trips, soil, pots, and maintenance on clippers and shears. Some students, however, see value beyond those dollars and cents. "It allows the students to work with the community in ways they wouldn't normally interact," senior Kate Hubler said. Hubler, who also participated in the 2007 sale, plans to work a couple of weekends at the greenhouse this year. While she enjoys the hands-on training -- ringing up purchases at the register, helping customers -- her favorite moments are of a simpler nature. "Just being able to hang out in the greenhouse on a nice day," she said. For shoppers, the stock might be more of a draw. Sale items include food for the dinner table -- tomatoes, peppers, cilantro -- as well as plants for the garden, such as geraniums, creeping Jennys and pansies. As customers scoop those plants up, Hougan hopes his students take away a lesson, completing part of their education. "I think kids need to learn the production, the growth and then the marketing of the products," he said. Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com.

1. Man blackmailed ex-girlfriend with nude pictures, police say 2. Snohomish motorcyclist dies in collision with pickup 3. Police looking for man who held up Everett pharmacy 4. Friends plan auction, hope to save woman's home 5. Sheriff warns of Camano Island burglar 6. Arlington private school principal charged with child rape 7. 400 open houses across the county this weekend 8. Man guilty for posing as trooper 9. Cama Beach cabins a quiet, cozy delight 10. LITTLE LEAGUE: Mill Creek reaches state semifinals 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• A Seattle SuperSonics' original: Henry Akin • A matter of faith • Late rally, trick play get Vikings victory • Mill Creek advance to finals Team rallies to beat Bainbridge Island 4-3 • Try for Olympics highlights Games' debut • Proper ball position important to set up • Sports Briefs • Richmond Little League at state majors tournament • Fewer sports fields could go into Hamlin Park • Arlington Fly-In marks 40th anniversary this year • Melody Biringer a wide-ranging entrepreneur • County home market offers low rates, lower prices, wide variety of prope ... • Good investments may be boring but profitable • Fryelands industrial park growing in Monroe • Out of the Blue Aviation expands flight training • Paul Allen’s rare Flying Heritage Collection becomes latest aviation att ... • Warbird's history keeper