Spencer Horticultural Solutions

09/26/2024

I'll start this post with a bit of backstory.

I turned 50 earlier this year. This spring, a client friend of mine asked me what I'd done to celebrate this milestone, suggesting that you should do 50 things in honour of it. Well, I didn't start out to make a lot of changes (I'm not a bucket list sort of guy), but inadvertently, I've done a few things that involved investing. We added some solar panels and other technology to the house. We did a few odd tasks and fixes around the house. And I guess I'm investing a little bit in myself.

Today, I (officially) started a new journey. Today is the official start date of my cohort for an accelerated Doctor of Education (EdD) program through Edgewood College, via a partnership with upGrad. I'll be focusing my specialization on Curriculum Studies and Learning Sciences. This is a 24 month, online, asynchronous program, which I'll be doing while continuing to work full time (and then some).

I'll admit it freely. I'm pretty nervous. I have agonized over this for many months. It's been over 20 years since I completed my last degree. But nervous is different than scared. Scared means you stop or freeze. Nervous means that you push on, despite your fears or apprehension, with the expectation that in the end, the benefits and blessings will far outweigh the challenges. I'm banking on the positive.

When I have told some people that I was going back to school, I have received lots of different questions and comments, such as "Why?" or "Do you think you are a bad teacher?", etc. The answers have varied. No, I don't need to go back to school. No, I don't think that I'm a bad teacher. But I can always improve. And I want to be better.

I love to learn. And I keenly feel the lack of experience and training and knowledge in some areas. So, I'm investing in myself, to be the best instructor that I can be.

I'm grateful for the support of my wife and family, the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology Faculty Association, as well as the countless other people that didn't give me crazy side eye, but gave me the gift of a big smile and a "that's great!" positive comment. I feel fortunate to be surrounded by people that are happy for me to be a better me, and believe that I can do it.

If, in the coming months, I seem a bit more frayed, or a little distracted, now you'll know why.

06/02/2024

Today was a big day. A day filled with emotions. Joy, satisfaction, happiness, relief, accomplishment, and sadness (not the sad sadness, but rather the "a journey with friends has come to an end" kind of sadness).

Today was for . I enjoyed celebrating the accomplishments of my students, as well as my friends and colleagues thst have worked with them.

It was a day full of happy reunions, meeting the loved ones of friends, seeing folks for the first time in a while, and maybe the last time for a while.

I feel privileged to be allowed to go work every day with the intention of helping students find, explore, and develop their passion for . I also see my own passion grow and increase as I spend time with them.

02/19/2024

It's been a pretty long time (about 598000 minutes) since I last wrote a blog article, but this week I was inspired by a great discussion about . What's that all about? Why not find out.

Questions – What the What? by RobtheHortGod | Feb 19, 2024 | Uncategorized | 0 comments It’s been a minute since I last posted an article. Well, in fact, it’s been approximately 25.5 months or 597,600 minutes since the last post. “Why?” “What have you been doing, Rob?” Those are good a...

10/27/2023

This week, the Greenhouse Production students tried their hands at something a bit different than just growing beautiful flowers and delicious veggies. The class made an assortment of flower bouquets for this week's greenhouse sale. We have mixed bouquets with sunflowers, sweet William, snapdragons, Bonita Asters, alstroemeria, and more. Plus, lots of fresh cucumbers, mint pansy pans, herb pots, etc.

Come check it out and pick up something grown by the students

07/01/2023

Going back "home" for a very quick visit with family allowed for an early morning visit to a place where I received my base education (I'm still learning).

I'm grateful for the many, many hours that I was fortunate to spend on this beautiful campus.

06/16/2023

During three seasons, I spend all my time working with students and doing what I can to help nurture a passion for horticulture. I do a bit of contract stuff at the same time.

In summer, I try and recharge my batteries a bit. I still do some contract consulting, but mostly, I just rest and appreciate the incredible work that my clients, colleagues, friends, and students do.

Huge shout out to my friends at Doug Gardens for hooking my family up with these great raised beds and custom soil blend. We've missed gardening the past 2 summers due to all of the changes in our family, so now we're set for 2024 (and maybe a little short stuff in 2023).

01/17/2023

Every day, I work hard to try and find ways to present information in my classes in such as way as to bring it to life, or make it more practical, or applicable, or with significant visual cues. Sometimes that means I use real examples. Sometimes that means an active game, or a lively discussion. Sometimes that means we go touch some equipment.

This week, it means I'm going to use 3D printed trees, a mini fan, and an anemometer to try and bring shelterbelt design to life. A 10 minute activity that will hopefully make it clearer and more memorable in the minds of my students.

I'm grateful to have the support of enthusiastic colleagues at who don't quash a zany idea, but pretty much shout "OH YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT..." and then make it happen.

There are more shapes coming, but it's a good start. Here goes nothing...

07/20/2022

It's that most wonderful time of the year when...
the right combination of heat and moisture (and a bit of nature's magical grossness) produce THIS.

This is a slime mold. Some of them are called dogs vomit fungus, while others probably have other names.

Is it gross? Yes.
Is it your fault? No.

You'll usually find it in mulched beds. Just scrape it up and dispose of it. It won't hurt you or your plants.

07/02/2022

Aaaaaaand just like that (with timing and rain), the fairy rings magically appear.

While these are frustrating for the owners, I still find them fascinating to watch and to consider what's really going on as a fungus takes the reins.

06/06/2022

You know how life goes and how something that you've known in theory for ages suddenly becomes reality?

I've studied plant pathogens for years and years, seriously or just out of curiosity or necessity. Yesterday, I finally observed a previously-never-seen by-me life/spore stage of one of my "favorites" diseases, Saskatoon berry/Juniper rust. This is the teliospore stage on juniper, with the distinctive orange, jelly-like telial horns. They are, in fact, squishy, and bright orange, and AWESOME.

I love those moments when a concept solidifies in reality, or when faith becomes knowledge.