Student Spotlight: Lindsay Healy

Nursery & Landscape Notes is introducing you to the next generation of green industry professionals by featuring current and recent college students with plans to pursue careers in the field.

Lindsay helps a severely autistic teen who had previously only interacted with a tablet. He planted the zucchini seeds himself, which helped improve his focus and fine motor skills. Lindsay was pleased with his enthusiasm, as he had never been exposed to this environment before.

Lindsay Healy of Marion, N.C., graduated from Western Piedmont Community College in May 2021 with a degree in horticulture technology. She participated in a work-study program for the horticulture department while in school, assisting the instructor with preparing the greenhouse for tours from local junior high schools, maintaining the gardens around the head house, helping to maintain their aquaponics system, and maintaining the production greenhouse when students were not participating in lab time.

How did you discover horticulture?

For the past 10 years I have worked in emergency medical services (EMS), and the last seven of those I served as a paramedic for Rutherford County. EMS was my passion, but it came with a cost: I developed post-traumatic stress disorder while working on the ambulance. During downtime at the base, I would go outside and prune the rose bushes in front of the ambulance bay with my trauma shears. This quickly became one of my favorite parts of going to work. I began thinking that when the day came to retire from EMS, I would go back to school to work with plants, and that led me to find the world of horticulture. With encouragement from my wife, I decided not to wait for retirement before beginning a career in horticulture, and I applied for classes at Western Piedmont Community College.

What were your most valuable experiences, either in school or from other exposure to the industry?

In March 2020 I was taking a course in greenhouse production. We had sown our seeds, germinated them on heat mats and watched them grow until true leaves emerged. Once emerged, we transplanted them carefully into the containers where they would continue to grow until the time came for the spring plant sale — or so we thought.

The pandemic then forced all classes to go to an online format, which meant that my classmates and I would not be allowed in the greenhouse to water, fertilize and care for our plants. Our teacher, Brandon Pitman, knew this would be devastating for us. He and the college were able to work out a plan so that each student had a designated time slot to pick up several trays of plants to continue growing at home. Fortunately, I had just purchased a 10’x12’ greenhouse for my backyard. I attempted to mimic the greenhouse conditions at school to continue growing my plants in similar conditions at home.

For me this was a very valuable experience because it placed all plant care in my hands. Of course, when I had questions, Mr. Pitman was there to answer them, but ultimately the responsibility was mine. I tend to learn best under pressure, so this was the perfect opportunity for me. In my head it was similar to working on the ambulance,

like a patient in the back of the ambulance I had to care for until we arrived at the hospital. In this case, my “patient” was a greenhouse full of flowers I had to care for until the time came for them to be planted for someone’s enjoyment. Through this experience, I gained an understanding of greenhouse conditions — and the plants I was given to care for — that I don’t feel I could have gained in any other setting.

What were your favorite college classes?

My favorite classes were plant propagation and applied plant science, which really go hand in hand. I loved learning why a plant could be grown from leaf and stem cuttings, then putting that into practice and watching the process throughout the semester. I also found it interesting that things like stratification occur naturally to continue a plant’s reproductive cycle.

What are your plans for the future?

After graduation I would like to continue my education and become a certified horticulture therapist. Currently I work for North Carolina Outreach Group Homes in McDowell County, an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. As part of our day program, we built a greenhouse where our clients are learning how to grow ornamental and vegetable crops. Our hope is to build a larger greenhouse in the future to allow the men and women we serve to grow food for the group homes they live in, as well as to have crops to take to market to earn income. We strive to help them gain financial independence and, more importantly, give them a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. Once I achieve my goal of becoming a horticulture therapist, I hope to work with our current therapy team to further utilize horticulture to help our clients meet their goals and grow mentally, physically and spiritually through connections with nature.

What advice would you give to a student interested in the field?

There are more opportunities in horticulture than most people realize. It’s a field in which you create your own path, if you Lindsay helps a gentleman are truly passionate about it.

who usually doesn’t like to participate in group projects. In this photo, the man said he What is your favorite plant, and why?

wanted to plant “cucumbers only — no tomatoes, because they are This question always makes me think for not as delicious.” days because there are so many options and variables. But my overall favorite plant at the moment is one I never thought I would like: petunias! There are so many varieties. The colors, patterns, bloom sizes and habits are so vast that they are really an all-around universal flower that is beautiful in any setting. I became so mesmerized by petunias during our spring plant sale that I spent three hours researching them on Google without realizing how much time had passed. Davis Insurance Agency Your Horticulture & Agriculture Experts Contact us at 919-701-0076 • info@brewmorllc.com Visit us online at www.BREWMORLLC.com or follow us on