Our Greenhouse, Nursery and Garden
The Horticulture program at Chemeketa Community College maintains a greenhouse, nursery and garden complex on the east side of the Salem Campus.
The Chemeketa Greenhouse includes 3,000 square feet of heated and 700 square feet of unheated greenhouse space where we grow annual and perennial flowers, houseplants, flowering baskets, ground covers and more. In addition, we use the greenhouse space for horticulture labs and student experiments. The nursery area is an irrigated "can yard" where we grow trees, shrubs and perennial plants in containers.
The garden surrounding the greenhouse and nursery includes a wide variety of ornamental landscape plants as well as a large section dedicated to growing fruits and vegetables.
This is where Chemeketa students get hands-on experience in growing both ornamental and edible plants. Student and volunteer projects include:
- Propagating and growing plants for our spring term plant sales;
- Planting and maintaining class projects and experiments;
- Maintaining the existing landscape and edible plantings;
- Designing and planting new areas within the garden;
- Assisting greenhouse staff with plant and pest monitoring;
- Using sustainable horticultural practices in all we do.
Volunteers are always welcome, whether you are a horticulture major or a student or staff member who wants to learn more about growing plants. Come get your hands dirty with us!
Greenhouse hours vary, but there is almost always someone there on weekday mornings to answer your questions, sell you a plant or get you started on a project. Contact Gail Gredler, 503.365.4692, E-mail, for more information.