LEXINGTON, Ky. — Morehead State University students are putting their green thumbs to use in the school's horticulture program.
As spring continues, students are transplanting flowers, herbs and vegetables to new soil and containers to be sold in their annual spring plant sale.
Everything is done by hand, from preparing soil with nutrient-heavy fertilizer to picking individual weeds inside the greenhouses to minimize pests and maintain the plant home. The growing process is based on how long it takes to germinate each and to make them as bright and abundant as the dozens they have today.
The greenhouse is also where students spend hours all year long cultivating gardens.
“I aspire to be a teacher and teach others about agriculture, so horticulture is just a big part of that," said sophomore Jayme Parks, who lives on the farm and majors in agriculture education.
Several varieties of plants are sourced for local use. Senior Owen Day said his two years with the unit have shown him how plant life is sustained in the region.
“This is a big community outreach that we do through the campus," Day said. "The university found that a lot of people come through to us, and they're always calling, asking questions about how they can help their gardens."
While April is their busiest month, students and staff said they look forward to seeing the plants in full bloom.