Carrie Taylor: Horticulture Coordinator

Carrie Taylor, Horticulture Coordinator
Maysville Ledger Independent

As the teacher and coordinator of the Horticulture Program at Maysville Community and Technical College, I am continuously interested in why students choose to study this area of specialization. Generally, one of the common interests that most of these people share is the love of plants and gardening; but choosing horticulture as a career is much different than one who is a hobbyist. Students who enter this program receive training in design, science or botany concepts and business management techniques, which enables them to make money while practicing the art and science of growing and cultivating plants. There is a bond between humans and the land which is attracting and often addicting to those of us who appreciate and respect this.

Within the industry there are numerous areas of specialization and diverse opportunities students may pursue. Some of these include: landscape and floral design, lawn and landscape maintenance, hardscape construction including sidewalks, retaining walls and pond installations and greenhouse and nursery growing. These professions share some common elements, the relationships between the land and humans. People within the horticulture industry utilize natural resources to create aesthetically pleasing and functional gardening products.

Humans have always been interconnected with the land and earth; this is more evident within the agriculture vocation which is closely related to horticulture. Soils, plants and nutrients are some of the most common natural elements that are mined, processed and formed into products for consumers. Since the relationship has always existed between people and nature, it is our responsibility to respect nature and its finite reserves. If business owners and employees respect these relationships, it is more likely that the resources, such as soils, mulches and plants will continue to be harvested and mined with less fear of endangerment to plant and animal species.

Most people who enter the horticulture vocation have an appreciation of their physical surroundings and have the desire to learn how to improve these. By working outside in the physical elements that are often less than ideal, including cold, rain and snow, I believe there is a heightened sense of respect and appreciation of the earth.

Practices that growers and designers use have a great impact on our immediate surroundings and the future of how land will be used. This is one of the many theories that a student in the horticulture program would study.

It is the responsibility of employees within the horticulture industry to become knowledgeable and to increase the knowledge of customers about cultural practices relating to gardening products, services and practices.

If you have an interest in growing and caring for plants, learning about their physiological components and if you have the desire to be creative with designing environmental elements, you may be a candidate for the Horticulture Program!

For more information about the program I can be reached at 606-759-7141 ext. 66232 or send me an e-mail: carriel.taylor@kctcs.edu.