Horticulture, a new class this year at Manitou Springs High School, is taught by Alicia Mauer. It takes place during 1A and 3B blocks.
Horticulture is the science and art of growing gardens and plants, this includes fruits, vegetables, flowers. and ornamental plants. The word “horticulture” comes from the Latin Hortis, “garden” and colere “to cultivate.” In horticulture, there are several different styles and methods to how that is done. Different climates also require different types of plants and gardening methods, for example, if you were to garden in a tropical area it would be a different type of gardening than a temperate area. Horticulture is a class that can help students in the future with gardening and plant skills that could bring them down a new path for their future.
Mauer personally loves horticulture and science, and she wanted to show that to the community and teach about science in a new form. “I love plants, I’m a plant parent, and I wanted to bring that into this community, because I think this community really feels connected to environmental things and nature,” Mauer said.
She also believes that horticulture can lead to alternate career opportunities and lead students down new paths. “I think that horticulture just gives another opportunity and perspective of science, where they can think about other career options,” Mauer said.
She had a vision for the class that was unique. “My vision was to create a class that was not a traditional class,” Mauer said. “I wanted it to be a hands-on class where kids would potentially be able to be specialized in this topic so that they could practice science in a new way.”
Dariden Martinez (11) is a student in Horticulture this year, and so far he is loving it. “I like Horticulture because, first of all, Mrs. Mauer is a great teacher,” Martinez said, “and I really like her methods of teaching in Horticulture.”
He also feels that Horticulture has had a big impact on him and will continue to. “I decided to join Horticulture because I felt like learning agricultural practices would benefit my future exponentially,” Martinez said.
Mauer believes that the class was not meant to be easy or difficult but rather a middle ground. “I think that sometimes maybe kids have the impression, oh, it’s a new class. Horticulture sounds like growing plants, this is going to be easy,” Mauer said, “but I have high standards, and I want to make sure that we’re learning along the way. I want to make sure that it’s not something that’s just like a throwaway grade or just an easy grade to get. I want there to be some integrity behind it as well, so kids get something out of it.”
Ryder Otterstetter (11) is another student in Horticulture this year, and he is also enjoying it a lot. “Mrs. Mauer said it was a new experimental class, and I like plants. I’ve always liked gardening as well, so I decided to learn more about it,” Otterstetter said.
He really likes the class and thinks it’s got chill vibes and overall loves the class as a whole. “It’s a lot of fun, very chill, I like how it’s in the morning. It’s a good start to my day,” Otterstetter said.
As much as he likes the class, he also at times finds it challenging. “There’s a lot of work involved, it’s all busy work, and hard work,” Otterstetter said. “I wish there was a little less work, since all the work is like packets and stuff, but it’s not that bad.”
Mauer sees the class as a help to students in that it teaches them future skills that could be useful, like gardening, and food skills. It can also help for students to have a new outlook on science and how horticulture can make a big difference. “I just wanted to provide another opportunity for them to take another type of class, that’s a science class, that might be something along the lines of what they’re interested in,” Mauer said, “and also have some kind of meaning in terms of societal solutions for these big problems that we’re dealing with, like climate change and food production.”
She made sure that she had standards for the class and that students would really learn and benefit from the class if they took it. “I created units that would not only revolve around horticulture, but also would align to Colorado State Standards and NGSS standards as well, so that kids would be seeing biology concepts through the lens of horticulture,” Mauer said.
