October 26, 2006 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of One |
Awbury Arboretum trains future landscapers
In the rainy, windy, chilly weather of autumn, the last thing many of us want to do is throw ourselves on our knees and dig our hands into the moist dirt, searching for the roots of weeds that threaten the life of blooming fall foliage. Yet weeding and other landscaping work is what brings Shevanie Cownsend, 19, to the Awbury Arboretum at 8 a.m. every weekday morning, although she admits that weeding is not her favorite task. Cownsend is one of nine young adults learning the skills of a horticulturist and landscaper in the Arboretum’s Apprentice Program. In her hot pink “Superstar” shirt and long silver earrings, she crouches wearing rubber gloves and protective goggles, steadying a large piece of wood as a machine splits it into firewood. The Apprentice Program at the arboretum is a grant-funded program that teaches entry-level skills for a career in landscaping through hands-on experience, classroom instruction and independent study. It is the second year the program has been held. Sue Pringle, the Arboretum’s land manager who works directly with the apprentices on the grounds, said it is so important for young adults to learn the skills of this industry and that the pay instills a confidence for them to continue on after the program ends. “If they know something about horticulture, they have their foot in the door,” said Pringle, who loves taking care of the grounds. She said that while a career in horticulture is not the typical American dream, she wouldn’t choose another career. “The American dream isn’t to get dirty,” she said. “But I can’t wait to get up every morning and be here. Not everyone can say that about their job.” The program runs nine months, ending in February when Pringle said many of the landscaping contractors are hiring new employees for the spring. Taufeeq Taylor, 19, said he hopes to study tree climbing further after the program. “I just wanted to learn a little about landscaping, but taking care of the grounds became more of a job,” Taylor said. “I get to use my hands a lot and it’s good for me because I don’t like to be inside much.” Twenty-year-old Jonathan Hillmeddo found out about the program from a friend who also went through the apprentice program. He said each day the group does something different — from weeding to chopping wood, raking to planting. Last Thursday a group of four, along with Pringle and Ignatius Weekes, co-manager of the apprentice program, were chopping apart the large trunk of a fallen ash tree for firewood. “It’s a year-round job,” said Pringle, who emphasized that it is important to teach the apprentices that there is more to the landscaping field than gardening and lawn mowing. She admitted that there is less to do on the grounds in the colder winter months and that the program focuses on learning in the classroom, but the group will also be taking down some of the trees on the 55-acre site that need to be removed and cutting them up for firewood. The firewood they were bundling last week was sent to Chestnut Hill’s Kilian Hardware Co., said Pringle, who will be the only retailer selling the wood besides the arboretum itself. Russell Goudy Jr., the hardware store’s manager, said the bundles would be sold for $4.49 each. The apprentices were all enthusiastic about the program and spoke highly of the people like Pringle and Weekes who supervise them. “I would recommend this program to anyone,” said Khadijah Fairey, 23, who comes to Awbury from Northeast Philadelphia each day. She found out about the program through a career center downtown, she said, and went to Awbury just out of curiosity at first. “I thought it would be interesting [to learn about landscaping] because it’s different, but it turned out to be fantastic,” she said. “Don’t knock anything until you try it.” Pringle said each student is interviewed before being selected for the program to ensure they are interested in and dedicated to learning the skills. And as the caretaker of 55 acres of landscaping and greenery in the middle of the city, she is grateful for the help! “This urban oasis is so important,” she said. “People can’t believe there are 55 open acres in Germantown,” adding to the acreage of Farimount Park, Morris Arboretum and other open spaces that make Philadelphia one of the greenest cities in the country. Tramping through some soggy ground after the rain, a little slippery with the fallen leaves, Pringle added that the arboretum focuses on educating — not just future landscapers — but also young people. Each year more than 8,000 students visit the grounds for lessons. The lessons are broken into age groups, ranging from “The Secret Life of Backyard Bugs” for kindergarten to first grade, to “Pennsylvania Watershed Issues” for eighth to 10th graders. On Oct. 21 the arboretum hosted a Harvest Halloween Party, inviting children to dress up with their parents or grandparents for a day of pumpkin painting, music, apple bobbing, and a lot more. Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819 or Kristin@chestnuthilllocal.com. |
