It’s time for the Horticulture Program spring Plant Sale

TCC’s Horticulture Program spring Plant Sale, a community gem, will be held for three days only, April 25-27, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., on the Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

TCC’s greenhouses, located behind the Whitehurst building, are chock full of beautiful blooms, fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs and colorful hanging baskets. And best of all, these beauties can go home with you to liven up your porch, yard or patio.

Whitney Waldo, lab manager, with Andrea Tomlin, Horticulture program lead.

“We are excited to be able to open our greenhouses to the community to showcase the crops grown by horticulture students,” said Andrea Tomlin, TCC horticulture professor and program lead. “We take pride in making sure the crops are quality grade, so students know what to expect when they are performing daily monitoring, cleaning, disbudding, fertigation and integrated pest management when running a greenhouse business and providing a service to the community.”

All plants grown by TCC’s horticulture students begin as seeds, rooted cuttings or plugs.

This year, Greenhouse Production students produced eighteen different types of bedding plants, six distinct types of vegetables, seven types of herbs, as well as a variety of houseplants and some native perennials.

Community members who come to shop will find geraniums, petunias, impatiens, vinca, verbena and others. An assortment of vegetables is available including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash and zucchini. Healthy herbs round out the offerings with basil, cilantro, lemon balm and more.

Every semester, horticulture students learn about crop production in the hands-on laboratories on the Chesapeake Campus. Three greenhouses protect plants and provide the growing setting in every season. Students focus on proper techniques for planting, fertilizing and documenting the growing season for each plant.

“Our plants are given a lot of care,” said Tomlin. “Students learn how to correctly space, disbud, pinch and deadhead plants as needed to produce a prolific plant that will last all season.”

TCC’s greenhouses are located behind the Whitehurst building with the lab in room 2067. Plants cost between $1 and $30 and can be purchased with cash or checks only. For more information about the sale, email atomlin@tcc.edu or call 757-822-5090.

It’s time to add some fall beauties to your space

Welcome fall by displaying mums and pansies grown by TCC horticulture students.

Consider adding colorful pots to your patio, porch or garden, or bring these fall-hued gems inside to add a splash of color to your place.

The Horticulture Program fall plant sale will be held on Oct 19-20 at the Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus located at 1428 Cedar Road. The sale, which runs 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., will be held in the campus greenhouses located behind the Whitehurst building.

A wide array of mums is available including Elena Gold, Danielle Purple, Beverly Orange and Chelsey White. Pretty pansies in brilliant colors round out the offerings.

All sales are first come, first served. Come early, as the plants usually sell out fast.

Please bring cash or checks to make a purchase. For more information, call 757-822-5090.

TCC celebrates the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day

Tidewater Community College students celebrated Arbor Day with a tree planting and gardening event at the Chesapeake Campus.

Campus Dean Emily Hartman kicked off the celebration held behind the student center by saying, “Tomorrow marks the 150^th anniversary of Arbor Day. Our students, faculty and staff are excited to be part of this historic moment. Let’s get planting!”

Students from the Horticulture department and the Biology and Outings Club got their hands dirty planting native plants designed to attract butterflies and beautify the campus. They also planted a Japanese maple tree as the centerpiece in the garden. The tree was donated by Ryan Osborne, a Chesapeake Campus staffer.

TCC’s Chesapeake Campus is the college’s “green” campus and a Certified Monarch Way Station.

Professor Marc Wingate, who leads the Biology and Outings Club, says activities like these add to the classroom learning, but more importantly, connect students to nature. “It’s important for students to connect to the resources they depend upon, even though they may not realize it. Our food doesn’t come from Walmart, it comes from the Earth.”

Horticulture program lead Andrea Tomlin added, “This work helps my students identify plants and appreciate the environment. We are hoping to make a small difference every time we gather to volunteer.”

The garden can be found by following the path behind the pond of the Chesapeake Campus Student Center.

“Everyone is invited to come and enjoy this beautiful garden and serene setting,” added Hartman. “It’s a campus gem we hope many in our community will enjoy.”

Campus Dean Emily Hartman with biology professor Marc Wingette and Horticulture Department lead Andrea Tomlin.

Student volunteers from the Horticulture Department and the Biology and Outings Club, with TCC staff.

The Horticulture Program spring sale is back on Chesapeake Campus

Step into the greenhouses on Tidewater Community College’s Chesapeake Campus and you will be delighted by the sights and scents.

You’ll find beautiful blooms, fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs and colorful hanging baskets. And best of all, these beauties can go home with you to liven up your home, yard or patio.

TCC’s Plant Sale will be held for two days only, April 26-27, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., on the Chesapeake Campus, 1428 Cedar Road.

“We are excited to be back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic,” said Andrea Tomlin, TCC horticulture professor and program lead. “We’re looking forward to seeing the community return to our three beautiful greenhouses for our annual spring sale.”

All plants grown by TCC’s horticulture students begin as seeds, rooted cuttings or plugs.

This year, Greenhouse Production students produced 18 different types of bedding plants, seven different types of vegetables, seven types of herbs, as well as a variety of houseplants and some native perennials.

Community members who come to shop will find geraniums, petunias, impatiens, vinca, verbena and others. An assortment of vegetables is available including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, zucchini and eggplant. Healthy herbs round out the offerings with basil, cilantro, lemon balm and more.

“Our plants are given a lot of care,” said Tomlin. “Students learn how to correctly space, disbud, pinch and deadhead plants as needed to produce a prolific plant that will last all season. In addition, daily watering, fertigation and disease monitoring ensure a quality crop.”

Growing plants also means pests and learning pest control techniques. TCC students use dual-sided yellow insect traps, as well as a special homemade pest control solution to ward off pests. You can keep your plants pest-free at home by using the recipe below.

TCC’s greenhouses are located behind the Whitehurst building with the lab in room 2067. Plants cost between $1 and $25 and can be purchased with cash or checks only. For more information about the sale, email atomlin@tcc.edu or call 757-822-5090.

TCC homemade pest control solution for your plants

Mix the TCC homemade formula for pests on most plants. Take a 16-ounce spray bottle and fill three-fourths with water. Add a few squirts of liquid dish detergent. Then add a few capfuls of rubbing alcohol. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water and replace the top. Shake well. Spray as needed on vegetables, houseplants, and blooming bedding plants to get rid of pests. This solution is safe for humans and pets.

TCC Horticulture students give back at “Come to the Bay”

Cloudy skies and cold temperatures didn’t dampen the spirits of Horticulture students and faculty as they worked at “Come to the Bay.” The group volunteered at a planting event sponsored by the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute.

Andrea Tomlin, Horticulture department chair, with student Whitney Waldo and Horticulture instructor Taylor Treadway

Andrea Tomlin, Horticulture department chair, and instructor Taylor Treadway led a group of nine TCC students as they planted American Beach Grass alongside the Lesner Bridge in Virginia Beach.

“This community service project was very rewarding,” Tomlin said. “We were thrilled to do our part to help protect, beautify and sustain our waterway landscapes in Hampton Roads.”

Participating students spent the morning hours of Valentine’s Day preparing the ground and planting the grasses. In total, 15,000 plants were added to the landscape to help with erosion control along the Bay.

“Not only do these grasses help beautify our beaches, but they are also vital to erosion control by serving as a natural defense against storm surges,” Tomlin said. “This grass helps build dunes along the beaches by extending a deep rhizome root system that holds onto the sand to keep it in place. Eventually, the grasses will fill in and reach a height of about two feet tall and can spread six to10 feet.”

The community service event included a short kickoff program with remarks by Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer and an educational lunch with experts speaking about environmental and horticulture topics.

Live! Inside the TCC greenhouse and Horticulture lab

In this series, we provide a closer look at hands-on learning during COVID-19.

While COVID-19 means online learning for most Tidewater Community College students, many are in the classroom for hands-on training. In fact, more than 400 sections of classes in interior design, automotive, health professions, welding, veterinary technology, culinary arts, visual arts, electronics technology and other programs have on-campus components.

Take a look inside a Horticulture program lab

Chesapeake Campus is home to the college’s Horticulture program and a new state-of-the-art greenhouse. When you enter the open-air space, your senses savor the sights and smells of hundreds of flowers and ornamental plants.

The new greenhouse at TCC’s Chesapeake Campus.

During the Greenhouse Crop Production lab, students learn to cultivate flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and floristry. They check soil levels, water, prune and master growing techniques. The course covers commercial best practices for growing flowering crops and considers production requirements, environmental control and management.

Emily Gonzales practices the technique.
Professor Andrea Tomlin with students..

During this lab, students also practiced the pour-through technique, a tool used to determine if the crops are thriving. Students pour water through the plants and then collect the water residue. From there, they test the sample to measure the pH and electrical conductivity of the plants.

Bryce Pate preparing plants for
delivery to the Community Feed at TCC.

In addition, students prepared fall pansies for delivery to a community event for the Community Feed at TCC, a program that provides meals, fresh foods and hygiene items for students in need. The Community Feed is a partnership program among TCC, the Foodbank and TowneBank.

Student voices

“I’d like to own my own nursery, and these propagation skills are a must. There’s no question that we have to complete these classes to get jobs in this field.” – Bryce Pate

“I’m learning the skills I need to be head grower in a greenhouse. The on-campus learning and greenhouse experience is invaluable.” – Derrick Broadous

“This material is challenging to learn online. You get so much more out of the labs by working in the greenhouse. And it’s nice to go somewhere during the pandemic!” – Emily Gonzales

About the instructor

Zach Nissen with the Foodbank and professor Tomlin. — Zach Nissen with the Foodbank and Professor Tomlin

Professor Andrea Tomlin, the Horticulture department head, has more than 20 years of experience in the field with an emphasis in greenhouse operations and production, landscape design and maintenance. She joined TCC in 2016, after serving as the Virginia Cooperative Horticulture Extension Agent with the City of Norfolk. She also held teaching positions with Virginia Beach and Chesapeake public schools.

The TCC alumna earned her Associate of Applied Science in Horticulture. Tomlin continued at Virginia Tech where she earned a bachelor’s in horticulture education and therapy and master’s in vocational and technical education, with a concentration in agricultural education.

Good to know

The horticulture program at TCC can help you grow your passion into a career. Horticulture requires an understanding of science and business, and TCC’s program emphasizes both. The curriculum provides a range of instruction from growing plants to designing and managing landscapes.

Students working with flowers — Students grew a variety of pansies including red violas, matrix purple, as well as matrix white, yellow and red.

More information

Learn about TCC’s Horticulture degree and certificate programs here or contact Professor Tomlin at atomlin@tcc.edu or enroll@tcc.edu.

Horticulture students grow a greenhouse full of vegetables for families in need

There’s an old saying that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That applies to vegetables, too.

With that concept in mind, and facing the COVID-19 crisis, Tidewater Community College and its Horticulture program donated a greenhouse full of vegetables and herbs to eventually provide salads and healthy sides for families in need.

TCC Horticulture students grew a healthy selection of vegetables and herbs in the new greenhouse at Chesapeake Campus.

“When our spring plant sale was cancelled because of the worldwide pandemic, we knew we had to do something to help people in need,” said Andrea Tomlin, assistant professor and program head for Horticulture.

Tomlin contacted the Virginia Cooperative Extension, which connected her with Healthy Chesapeake and the 13 community gardens it supports.

Tomlin’s Crop Production students worked all semester growing plants and herbs, including heirloom tomatoes, peppers, oregano, parsley, sage and even insect-pollinating plants that will help the gardens remain strong.

“My students were so happy to be able to contribute and give back during this time,” Tomlin said. “Taking some positive action and coming together to serve our community has been very rewarding.”

Picking up the donation from TCC’s Andrea Tomlin (left) are Chris Lessick, Calib Miller and Kimi Stevens with Healthy Chesapeake.

The Horticulture program donated five truckloads of plants to Healthy Chesapeake and its Food Connection program that exists to address food insecurity and promote healthy eating. The goal is to reduce chronic disease and improve the quality of life for families, at-risk youth and homebound seniors in need.

“It’s crazy to see how things work out because, with the closing of schools, we lost our crops in the community seed bank, where we raise seedlings for planting across the city. Now with this amazing, huge windfall, our gardens will be able to feed even more people,” said Calib Miller, food connection program manager with Healthy Chesapeake.

Miller called the donation “an incredible boon and bounty for us.”

Healthy Chesapeake supports community gardens that include Atlantic Shores Christian School, Historic South Norfolk Community Garden, Cambridge Square Apartments and Wildcat Garden at Great Bridge High.

Horticulture students also grew 25,000 annual bedding plants that would typically benefit the community. Now they will be planted on TCC’s four campuses. Tomlin added, “While we miss being on campus, we are happy that the fruits of our labor will be enjoyed by students and faculty when we return.”

To learn more about TCC’s Horticulture program, email Tomin at atomlin@tcc.edu.

From here to business owner in one semester

With just one semester at Tidewater Community College behind her, Nia Vargas, 21, is on her way to launching her very own business.

Rollin Juices, a mobile juice bar, will offer plant based milk and cold pressed juices via a non-emissions food truck that runs on solar energy and electric power.

Through her business classes, Vargas learned about the inaugural #IAmFunded Pitch Competition, sponsored by Black Brand, Hampton Roads’ Regional Black Chamber of Commerce.

One of 10 young entrepreneurs selected to participate in the competition, Vargas took the top spot. She received $10,000 to cover start-up costs and landed a team of mentors.

“This is absolutely going to set me on the path for success,” she said. “The first three years of any business venture is vital, and now I have a team to help me launch my vision.”

A horticulture major at TCC, Vargas branched out and included a small business management and entrepreneurship class in her schedule during that first semester.

“I chose horticulture because I want to learn to grow my own crops. I added business, because I need to know how to own and operate a business,” she said.

Vargas added, “I love the community at TCC and how everyone is invested in our success. Even if it’s a simple event, the effort shows that they are here for us.”

Plans are under way for the Rollin Juices soft launch in March. The first food truck is being outfitted and will operate, in part, on solar power. Along with new signage and interior systems, the truck will be one of the first in the area to offer on-site service and home deliveries.

In addition, to keep expenses in check and protect the environment, her team is converting multiple shipping containers into a commercial kitchen and office space. They will be placed on a site off Tidewater Drive.

“I’ve always been focused on health and wellness, and by going green with my business, I’m hoping to create awareness that the smallest things we do can benefit or harm the planet,” she said.

Vargas develops her own recipes for juices and other products. She hopes to provide healthy food options that everyone can afford.

Rollin Juices will first appear by Zeke’s Beans & Bowls off Granby Street in March. The Rollin truck also will have a slot at this year’s Something in the Water festival in April.

It is that time of year again for beautiful holiday flowers

Tidewater Community College horticulture students will hold their annual poinsettia sale Dec. 10 – 12 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the Chesapeake Campus greenhouses, located behind the Whitehurst Building.

All crops are grown by TCC’s students with inspiration from White’s Nursery & Garden Center, where poinsettias and chrysanthemums are in full bloom.

A sea of poinsettias are grown at White’s and shipped to shops across the country.

Professor Andrea Tomlin’s Crop Production students visit the Chesapeake nursery every year at this time and walk away with a better understanding of what is being taught to them in class.

Students get a behind-the-scenes look at the nursery’s operations.

“I can remember when I was a TCC student in the 1990s going to White’s Nursery to see how these crops are grown and how a wholesale and retail business in this industry operates,” Tomlin said. “It is always such a treat to go there because you get a true appreciation of the work, quality and knowledge that goes into growing these crops.”

Horticulture instructor Sheri White at White’s Nursery & Garden Center.

White’s Nursery, owned by TCC professor Sheri White, is one of the largest growers in the United States for poinsettias and mums.

“I am committed to sharing my passion for horticulture with my students,” White said. “It is an absolute joy to be able to fulfill my duties in our family business as well as have an opportunity to inspire future professionals.”

TCC alumna’s green thumb feeds a community

Christy Carroll-Hendricks was in fifth grade at Indian Lakes Elementary when she planted her first vegetable garden.

Today, she is the team horticulturist at the Virginia Beach Community Garden (VBCG), which she designed as part of a class project while studying Landscape Design at Tidewater Community College’s Chesapeake Campus.

Virginia Beach Community Garden with fresh crops to feed families. — Virginia Beach Community Garden provides fresh fruits and vegetables for families.

VBCG is the brainchild of Virginia Beach residents Helene Tisdale and her husband, Chuck Kellen. They got the idea after watching a Ted Talk about an English community that had turned open spaces in their town into gardening spots. A year later they connected with Sentara Princess Anne, who provided the land, and the community garden was born.

The garden has since grown to include 52 separate spaces. “It’s an honor to see my design put into action,” Carroll-Hendricks said. “Watching the garden spring to life has given me even more incentive to keep going.”

The garden, which is located at the busy intersection of Dam Neck Road and Glenn Mitchell Drive in Virginia Beach, feeds hundreds of families’ fresh fruits and vegetables.

Carroll-Hendricks says her son, Brody, who has special needs, inspired the project.

“Accessibility is a big deal for us, as Brody is wheelchair bound. I can attest to the difficulty we have accessing some locations. Nobody should be left out because they can’t physically get to a location where an activity is taking place,” Carroll-Hendricks said.

The design features wide paths, raised beds and easy access to the space. It will soon have benches and shaded areas where people can stop and rest. Eventually it will include a

pavilion at the center.

Christy Carroll-Hendricks tends plants at the Virginia Beach Community Garden — Carroll-Hendricks tends plants at the garden.

Carroll-Hendricks, who is a board member for VBCG, spends about 20 hours a week tending the crops, which are flourishing under her care. Lush strawberries and a variety of peppers and lettuces are among the offerings. Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans and kiwi are on the way.

Everyone is welcome, but the board asks anyone who picks to spend 30 minutes tending the beds by weeding or watering.

A single mom to five children, Carroll-Hendricks graduated from TCC in May 2018 with an Associate of Applied Science in Horticulture and a Certificate in Landscape Design. She hopes to return to TCC to earn a general studies degree so she can transfer to Virginia Wesleyan College to study environmental science.

Carroll Hendricks says she learned beyond the classroom from Professor Kristina Bezanson, who is an active community volunteer, and this is her way of paying it forward.

Carroll-Hendricks and daughter Lexi work together at the garden. — Carroll-Hendricks and daughter Lexi work together weeding and watering plants.

“This is a great educational space allowing children and adults to learn about where food comes from, how it’s grown, how to grow it organically and harvest it,” she said.

While at TCC, Carroll-Hendricks was president of the Horticulture Club and the recipient of several scholarships, including one from Barnes & Noble.

Carroll-Hendricks spends her free time outdoors in her home garden with her children. They also enjoy riding bikes and family adventures to the community garden.