Louis-Philippe Huot1 truly has a green thumb. A horticulturalist by training and a gardener at the Fierbourg Vocational Training Centre for seven years, he is responsible for the institution’s greenhouses. The greenhouses are used by the students in the Horticulture and Gardening courses and in the Horticultural Production courses given by the centre.
“My days aren’t typical,” he says. “My priority is to maintain the thousands of plants that grow in the greenhouses all year round. I also take care of the supply of equipment and make sure the students have everything they need to hone their skills.”
14
NUMBER OF GARDENERS
among the 30,000 members of the Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS-CSQ)
Plant nutrition must be rigorously maintained. In the morning, Louis-Philippe Huot waters the plants, which is an essential task, especially on hot days. He then premixes the fertilizer that the students will use later. He also makes sure that all the systems, such as water systems and humidity sensors, are operational and maintains them regularly.
Bonding with the students
As a former student of the Fierbourg Vocational Training Centre, Louis-Philippe Huot knows how important his bond with the students is. In a way, the gardener becomes their right hand during training.
In addition to supporting students as they increase their knowledge, Louis-Philippe Huot sometimes works with them on special projects, such as the planting of vegetable gardens. “These are golden opportunities to develop a special bond with future horticulturalists,” he says.
1 Louis-Philippe Huot is member of the Syndicat du personnel de soutien de la Commission scolaire des Premières-Seigneuries (CSQ).
