Students Learning at Ashland High School with Horticultural Instructors

Posted by Christine Eirschele May 11, 2009

I first heard of Eric Mayer from his sister who described the gardens at the high school where he teaches as “his.” Of course, I was intrigued to know that horticulture was being taught at the high school level and wanted to learn more.

While at Ashland High School I got a tour from Eric, affectionately called mayer-san, and to do something all gardeners love to do, shop for plants. There I met Cody, one of the horticultural students, and his Mom.

Eric became a visiting instructor in 1990, at the Hi Kami Agricultural High School in Japan. While there he studied landscape design techniques of Zen temple gardens and Japanese tea gardens in Kyoto, Japan.

His enthusiasm was evident as we strolled through the gardens explaining the school’s gardens and passion for what his students accomplish.

Horticultural Curricula and Lesson Plans

A number of horticulture instruction examples can be seen in the Oriental gardens including construction techniques, landscape design and maintenance. The creative environment outside presents a number of teaching opportunities for many lesson plans including an abundance of photo and video opportunities, a laboratory for scientific study and the landscape designs offer angels and proportions to study math.

Instructor, parent and student repeatedly referred back to life skills, such as problem solving and cooperative teamwork being influenced by horticultural classes. As Eric stressed, "Steering students towards buy-in is what makes a successful project." He felt students have to have ownership and that is how he thinks teachers offer inspiration for life long learning.

Visiting the Oriental Gardens

While you visit the oriental gardens, I suggest you take note of projects the students learned.

In the flood control storm water retention landscape, there is a waterfall, all part of the Oriental water garden.

At the first water basin in the memorial area near the rake garden, remember that the water basin had to be reinstalled after an underground drain was forgotten.

Also near the rake garden, it is a testimony to perseverance because it took nine days for students to pound a depression into the stone. It holds the water in the basin.

Vandalism at the School’s Gardens

Another of life’s lessons has been the high cost in time and money that vandals have caused. The Shinto lantern cost $600 to remake after it was destroyed and the Yukimi lantern roof and bamboo panels needed repair after vandalism in the tea garden. For a time, the St. Francis of Assisi statue near the memorial garden was missing until someone found it sitting on a porch.

Vandalism has been a hard lesson to learn over the years. But horticultural instructor Mayer says, “If we quit, the vandals win.” And so, every year, instructors and students move forward.

Ashland High School Garden Center

The Oriental gardens have been built and maintained by students, volunteers from the community and with monetary funds and time, labor, equipment and materials donated.

One major fundraiser is the garden center's annual plant sale. The day I was there the parking lot was a mass of cars; some visitors took in the gardens while others went to purchase plants grown in the greenhouses by the horticultural students. The plants are high quality and inexpensive. This is an easy way to support a wonderful public garden that helps students.

I met Cody and his Mom at the tour, while Cody was working at the garden center sale. Cody was enthusiastic to explain his appreciation for the classes. Cody said that it was an actual place to learn hands on. Although only a fraction of students go on to college in horticulture, Cody intends to go into forestry at a technical college.

This is a wonderful public garden to visit, which allows the community to support the extensive years of work students have created.