We started out the weekend all smiles (yes, even Brittany) as we arrived promptly at the school just before 8am eager to get things started. Jeff met us at the greenhouse where we went over what seemed to be an endless list of all sorts of tasks to complete by Sunday which would surely come sooner than expected. After going over the list we got started on the usual opening tasks; opening the shade curtains, and going over the greenhouse circle check, counting the till and putting out the signs for the plant sale. We noticed the poinsettias needed a little extra love as some were looking a little on the thirsty side. We tackled this together and went through the crop watering as needed. Next, we moved onto the stock plants in the hanging baskets that were over grown and packed very tightly onto the first railing. Giving the larger plants a quick pinch, some water and moving some into their new homes we printed new labels to replace the had written ones and before we knew it; lunch time! After lunch, we went into the school to help Lucas and Jeff who had found the gold mine of wood panels that we are going to use in our build for congress. The 4 of us loaded up a “kart” to carry all the panels down to Drew’s shop so we can begin construction on Monday’s class. After a couple trips we managed to get them into Drew’s shop all in one piece despite Jeff’s poor steering skills, watch out on the roads folks! Next Jaimi and I displayed the proud work of the second year students to the first years during their soils class. We talked about the poinsettia crop and answered any questions they had. Before we knew it, it was already time to gather up the signs, count the float in the till and go home. First day down!
Saturday The second day we were feeling incredibly ambitious and were eager to complete the majority of the tasks remaining on our list. We separated and divided the list and got down to work. Jaimi did some rearranging and consolidating in the greenhouse to start the day out. Brittany potted up the Polka Dot Plants that were in the prop chamber into pots and moved them into the greenhouse. Not soon before the lunch the snow began to fly and within a couple hours we saw our vehicles beginning to disappear, not a bad day at all to be inside the nice warm greenhouse! Brittany moved into the tractor bay and finished painting the shutters for congress. Jaimi tackled a handful of odd jobs in and around the greenhouse. After lunch it was time to do some organizing! Jaimi went through the annual plant tags and did inventory, and we both got into the spirit of the upcoming holidays tackling the Christmas bins under the table. We put a dent in the mountain of pots to be washed and again the day was coming to an end as we wrapped up day with closing duties and wished each other luck on the drive home as we took off fish tailing our way out of the parking lot, by this point the campus was covered in snow!
Sunday As our alarms went off Sunday morning we woke up to Snowmageddon 2.0, we both fearlessly hopped into our vehicles hoping to make it to the college. Jaimi made it to the campus but unfortunately coming out of town even four wheel drive wasn’t enough to get Brittany there on time and she reluctantly turned around to go back home and wait out the storm. Back at the greenhouse Jaimi was flyin’ solo going over the poinsettia crop again, and tidying up the tool box in the tractor bay, and trying to conquer what was left of the pots to be washed. Brittany finally made it into the city around 11:30 and dragged R2D2 through snow and into the college to do the interiorscaping. Jaimi did some off-roading on the RTV trying to find the best possible route to the compound to get rid of all our compost, successfully and with some rosy cheeks she returned, where we finished painting the door in the tractor bay, washed pots, cleaned up the till, closed the shade curtains and locked up. See ya at next semester’s weekend practical!
