Green Thumbs for Glory: HU’s Horticulture Club
I heard through the grapevine that Huntington University’s Horticulture Club is buzzing with activity and is unbe-leaf-ably cool!
All jokes aside, HU’s Hort Club is a special interest group on campus that celebrates God’s creation through plant cultivation and beekeeping. As Foresters, we want to steward the Earth and serve those around us in response to God’s amazing love. Tenderly upkeeping the campus orchard, garden, greenhouse, woods, and bee hives, the Hort Club truly embodies HU’s mission of service.
But if you are like me, the word “horticulture” can seem a little bit daunting. I’m not well-versed in plants, bees, or nature, and I was hesitant to ask questions that might be considered too simple or obvious. However, keeping in step with the Spirit of a Forester, I remained curious and asked Hort Club secretary Rebeca Miller to have the members answer some of my questions at their next meeting. As always, these Foresters made me feel welcome, and now I know what horticulture means!
“The Horticulture Club is a club in which students get the experience of learning to grow different plants, be stewards to the fruit and vegetables they grow at the orchard and garden on campus, and provide safety to the bee hives on campus for their sweet nectar: honey” (Rebeca Miller).
Rebeca’s description of the Hort Club is beautiful because it highlights the responsibility we have as Christ followers to take care of the home God has given us. Foresters call HU home for four years of their life, and the Hort Club works diligently to maintain our home campus and encourages others to celebrate God’s creation with them.
“We have multiple sales throughout the year so people can get succulents, dish gardens, honey, and cute little stickers. We do Paint-A-Pot, the Plant Clinic, and we participate in the Fall and Spring Work Days! The tulips around the fountain are courtesy of the Hort Club, and the big plants by the Dining Commons’ prayer circle are ours too” (Avery Hills).
During one of the sales, member Ainsley Kiefer gained one of her favorite memories from being in Hort Club:
“Personally, my favorite memory from the club was setting up the [Paint-A-Pot] sale. Due to rain, we were not able to have it in the desired place, but it was still fun to run back and forth in the rain getting all of the plants and goods that were sold and used during the sale.”
Even from these simple interview questions, you can feel the excitement and joy that HU’s Horticulture Club has for community, God’s creation, and growing green thumbs to be used for God’s glory. If you are interested in becoming a member, supporter, or volunteer, check out this information from faculty member Dr. Collin Hobbs:
“We have a student leadership team, the Hort Club Board, that consists of 10 students who are voted into their positions by their peers at our first meeting of the fall semester. Beyond that, people can email the Hort Club President or one of the faculty/staff advisors to get on our email list. We use the email list to notify people about upcoming volunteer opportunities and events.”
