Written by Maggie Mull
Mae Basehore, a senior at Garden Spot High School, is currently participating in the Garden Spot Pathways internship program, organized and run by Jill Hackman. This opportunity allows students to explore various career fields that relate to their interests and aspirations. Garden Spot Village offers numerous internship openings, including a position at the greenhouse. Here, under the direction of Greenhouse Manager Steve Heydt, Mae works to further her knowledge of plant science in an immersive, hands-on environment.
Three times a week, Mae makes the ten-minute bike ride over from school following the end of her final class. She typically stops at the Harvest Table for a quick lunch before traveling over to the greenhouse to begin her work.
The greenhouse is comprised of 200 10-foot tall planting towers, which allows for up to 18,000 seedlings to be grown at any given time. Residents of Garden Spot Village do most of the planting and harvesting, but Mae assists by climbing ladders to reach the upper niches. She also partakes in other housekeeping tasks, such as sweeping the floors, hosing down the towers, and removing wilted lettuce leaves.
Lettuce is the most loved crop of the greenhouse, and it surpasses other plants in total types and overall quantity. Mae works to diversify the harvest through experimentation in her designated towers. She explains, “I grow cucumbers, tomatoes, nasturtium, spinach, alyssum, cilantro, Brussels sprouts, green beans, and two types of mint. The variety makes this my favorite part!”
This elaborate gardening style also requires knowledge of chemistry. Mae, currently enrolled in Advanced Placement Chemistry, is well-suited for the task of monitoring pH and electrical conductivity levels in the water used for the hydroponic process. Suitable levels range across plant types, and Mae can make adjustments to these metrics through additions and dilutions. This oversight ensures that plants are receiving the correct level of nutrients in the absence of soil.
Mae is able to interact with residents in a variety of ways, including through outreach events. Recently, she attended the Volunteer Fair and Business Expo, which allowed her to connect with other greenhouse assistants, current residents, and future residents.
When asked why she chose this internship, Mae replied, “I really like working with plants, and I’m interested in going into biological pest control in agriculture.” She is set to attend the West Chester University Honors College and major in biology, having received merit scholarships and recognition for her accomplishments.
Work done at the greenhouse benefits the greater community in many ways. It gives Garden Spot Village chefs year-round access to fresh produce, including lettuce, kale, and tomatoes. Additionally, the sustainable style helps to conserve both water and energy, which has a positive impact on the environment as a whole.