Botany teacher Mrs. Nicole Schumacher has been hosting the Botany Plant Sale for the last five years. The plant sale is a fundraiser for the next year’s classes to have money for supplies to take care of the plants around the school. It is a great way to teach students how to make something to sell and benefit others with it. Schumacher very much enjoys teaching the Botany class, always trying new and different techniques with the students every year.

“I am very passionate about the topic, hoping it will rub off on the students I teach” said Schumacher.

During class time, the students get hands-on experience from day one with seeding, transplanting, watering, and general plant care. Preparing plants for the sale teaches the students how to prepare and sell to raise money for the class budget. Setting all of the plants up can be challenging, there is always ways to make the best of it. Senior Luis Rodriguez stated,

“I mostly enjoy hanging out, if we are done setting up early we have the option of talking while we wait for the sale to start.”

With the money that comes from selling the plants, Schumacher puts it towards the next year’s Botany class. Money is used to buy containers and supplies. The students from past years have done that to help out the costs of the supplies that Schumacher cannot afford with the school budget that is given to her. The money made by the student goes for the supplies and materials for the following year class.

Students getting ready for the sale have a lot of tasks to get done in class time, such as being able to read what the plant is and what specific needs it has to grow and having the discipline to get the plants planted correctly. People purchase plants from the sale because they know the students put a lot of time into growing the seeds, the plants are locally grown, and they love to support the Botany class. The students like hands-on activity planting seeds and transplanting, teaching them in a more understanding way then having them read in a book.

“I think the best part of preparing is when we get to sit there and figure out where to put all the plants in the greenhouse. It is the best part because of the amount of strategy that goes into it” said Junior Carly Johnson.

In past years, the art class has contributed their art to sell at the sale, and this year is the same. Ms. Linda Badtke’s Art Scream  has been working on ceramic bird houses, and also garden art. The money made from the art class art work will be given back to the class to show that people buy unique art work. Bringing in other classes from the school to sell at the sale brings all different people to the sale supporting the school.

The Botany Plant Sale is a goal the Botany students work towards since the first day of the class. Learning how to work with plants around the classroom, around the school yards, and growing your own to bring home. Being able to show what you are learning in class can mean a lot to some students. Getting the community together to support with all of the hard work they put into preparing is always a good feeling.  

“The plant sale is more than just selling plants, it’s giving money for more years to come and it’s seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they walk through the door.” explained Junior Alexis Simon.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so stop by the sale to pick something special for your mother or to just plant in your garden. The Plant Sale will be Saturday, May 13th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Stop on by to show your support for Sheboygan South High School Botany class.