Make an inspiring decision. Whatever your dreams, wherever you want to go in life, Monroe Community College can help you get there. Learn more about our new Agriculture and Food Studies Certificate program. Gain the real world education and experience you need to land a great job and advance your career in this major industry.
Support for this program is provided by the Finger Lakes Food Processing Cluster Initiative.
www.monroecc.edu/go/agriculture (585) 292-2200
August 21, 2016
Issue No. 34
www.westsidenewsny.com
West Edition
Distributed to Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray and Brockport-Sweden
Hilton teenager has a passion for gardening Garrett grows all kinds of shrubs, annuals, perennials, edibles, flowers and Houseplants, orchids, succulents, cacti, herbs - many from seed - and makes use perennials, vegetables, fruits, annuals, of everything. Fruits and vegetables are even carnivorous plants and carnivorous eaten in season, herbs are used in teas to water plants - there seems to be nothing to help ward off illness and elderberries are in the Kingdom Plantae that does not harvested and turned into syrup, which, “is fascinate and intrigue 16-year old Garrett an immunity booster,” Garrett says. He is an authority on Spring. begonias, cacti, succuThe Hilton High lents and orchids - “I’ve School student rebeen collecting them ceived his first plant since I was 12, they are at the age of seven easy to grow if you have and began gardening the right conditions” at age eight, meanGarrett says of orchids ing he has spent - all of his favorites half of his young flourish in his greenlife pursuing the houses. In the winter, hobby and science greens for salads are of growing things. also grown there. Visit“I get so much from ing the greenhouse in gardening,” Garrett the winter is “a tonic,” explains. Garrett explains. His Perhaps he is “cacti house,” located in drawn to plants by one of the greenhouses way of his own genetics, his great-grand- This exquisite African Violet is part of Garrett’s is, “the pride and joy of what I do,” he says. father ran a nurs- houseplant collection. K. Gabalski photo. He collects seeds and ery on the property propagates plants at where Garrett lives today and Garrett prizes the terra cotta his “propagation station.” Garrett admits most young people his age pots, greenhouses and plants that remain from those times. A huge boxwood that have other interests - video games, electronharkens back to the nursery grows near ics and social media, but he is happy to do the pond. “I remember when we would his own thing. “The garden is the place to be,” he says. “People need to get back make forts in there,” Garrett says. Garrett was first bitten by the gar- to nature, they need to get outside more. dening bug appropriately enough by My troubles melt away in what I am doing carnivorous houseplants and other exot- while I’m in the garden.” He muses that the process of gardening ics, and there was no turning back. His first garden of perennials continues to cultivates more than fruits and flowers - the flourish, but now there is more, so very care and nurturing of plants and landscapes helps one to develop love, empathy, undermuch more. by Kristina Gabalski
Garrett Spring looks over the thriving perennials that continue to grow in the first garden he planted eight years ago. K. Gabalski photo.
Garrett Spring of Hilton displays an amazing begonia from his collection, which is housed in one of his greenhouses. K. Gabalski photo. standing and patience, Garrett observes. “I wish more people would see that you can get so much from gardening,” he notes. Garrett’s gardens, situated north of Route 104, have soil which is a rich, sandy loam. Everything thrives, but Garret says the wildlife this year have been merciless. Flowers and cut flowers are also grown. Garrett enjoys harvesting some fresh for bouquets, while others he dries for crafting in the fall and winter. “Lisianthus is my favorite cut flower,” Garret says. Gladiolus are also an important flower crop. He just leaves the bulbs in the ground each fall and they happily come back in the spring. More amazingly, Garrett does all this with disabilities - some stemming from birth and others stemming from health issues which have arisen over the years and have left him with a prosthetic leg. He also lost his mother at the age of 10. The challenges have, at times, made it impossible for Garrett to attend school on a regular basis, but he moves freely throughout the garden, saying that you have to adapt to the challenges you face. Gardening is a way that, “helps me heal and cope,” he observes. Garrett gives special thanks to his aunt - Karen Smith - who has worked with him on all his gardening projects and shares his love of gardening. The two often visit garden centers together to hunt for new plants and share a special perennial flower bed in front of Garrett’s home. “My aunt is so important to everything,” he says. “None of this would be possible if it weren’t for her. She helps and appreciates what I do. It is so important to have people who help and support you.”
In addition to gardening, music plays a big role in Garrett’s life. He sings, writes poetry, plays guitar and has been, “writing music for two years.” He and his girlfriend get together to play and record music regularly. “We work together on songs,” Garrett says. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.” He describes his music as earthy and acoustic just right for an avid gardener. Garrett is looking forward to getting back to school and finishing high school over the next couple of years. “You get out of it what you put into it,” he observes of life - whether it’s at school, in the recording studio or out in the garden - “I plan to keep taking care of plants and getting beautiful grades.”
Garrett holds his pet chameleon, Julian. Garrett has also named a frog who lives in a small water garden, Henry. K. Gabalski photo.