How Stuff Works

Jennifer Zurko

A major issue that we’re constantly dealing with is the cluelessness of our poor, hapless end consumer. That may be a harsh way to describe them, but it’s also mostly accurate. And we try to help them as much as we’re able with signage and plant tags and printed pots and banners and websites and … It’s frustrating for us—and, obviously, for them—that they don’t always know how plants work.

And have you ever tried to tell someone outside of the industry how the supply chain works? I have. Their eyes either glaze over or they look at you with wide eyes and say, “I didn’t realize that’s how plants get to the store!” Like as if the magical plant fairy goes from garden center to garden center, waving her wand. Poof! Plants!  

If you’re a newbie just starting out in this industry, walking into a greenhouse in full-on spring production is an intimidating and eye-opening experience. I wasn’t lucky enough to be born into this business, I was adopted into it, so learning how the production side worked was really
humbling.

For the last few years, we’ve used the June issue to focus on how stuff works, whether it’s new machinery, tools or other ways to help improve your growing process. Did you look at the machine on the cover and think, “How does that thing work?” Chris Beytes talks about how he saw the first automated cutting sticker in North America at Metrolina Greenhouses in North Carolina. It’s interesting stuff.

Have you ever wondered how you could possibly work in maintaining a clean greenhouse during the hustle and bustle of spring? You can. 

We also have articles on how diffuse light works (page 54) and which types of greenhouse lamps work better.

Also, as we have for the last 11 years, we’ve chosen three impressive young professionals as finalists for our annual Young Grower Award. Every June, we include their information, picture and the essay they wrote addressing a question posed by the Ball Publishing editors. This year, we asked them what they thought our industry should do to entice young people to choose horticulture as a career—and how to keep them here. And make sure you check out the essays from the three Young Retailer finalists.

You can meet all six of our finalists at Cultivate’16 when we announce the winners at the Unplugged event Monday, July 11. And you may just run into me, Jen P., Ellen and Chris, too, although we’re not as young or as cool as our finalists. But that’s okay; we know how this stuff works.