Students Gain Hands-On Gardening Experience

Edgecombe Community College Career and College Readiness students in the Adult Basic Education I class have been studying plant life and decided to create a flower bed on the Rocky Mount campus. Flowers and other planting materials were donated by the Rocky Mount chapter of Tau Gamma Delta.

A class of Edgecombe Community College Career and College Readiness students who have been studying plant life decided to put lessons into action.

The Adult Basic Education I students determined that they wanted to carry out a campus beautification project and create flower gardens on the Rocky Mount campus.

“I was thrilled at their interest in this project because it would enable them to see how plants grow from beginning to end,” says instructor Evelyn Powell. “Students are the best part of ECC, and I enjoy watching their confidence grow when they participate in service projects.”

Powell and her students worked with John Butts, director of facilities, to identify spaces on the Rocky Mount campus that might be ideal for flower beds.

For their first gardening project, the students selected an area near the Student Lounge entrance, prepared the soil, and then planted flowers donated by Powell’s sorority, the Rocky Mount chapter of Tau Gamma Delta, which also donated other planting materials.

Students will continue to maintain the flowers throughout the class. They also have identified other areas on the Rocky Mount campus where they intend to plant flowers. Several of the students have been so inspired by the project that they are exploring careers in landscaping.

According to LaShawnda Washingon, director of College and Career Readiness, “Our program encourages student self-sufficiency, which is strengthened through service projects such as this. In addition, these flowers will bring joy to others. It’s a win-win.”