The Palouse is an epicenter for some of the best wheat crops in the world. Residents and visitors alike can see it growing for miles, along with barley, lentils, chickpeas, and other plants that fit in perfectly with the rolling hills.

For as big of a plant scale as Pullman and its surrounding area provides, WSU students often lack strong connections with the benefits of greenery, and the horticulture club provides a great opportunity to foster that connection.

“Horticulture Club is a space where people can work with plants and people who enjoy a slower paced activity,” said Natalie Valdez, horticulture club president. “And you receive some benefits while you do it.”

For spending time in the club’s greenhouses and working during plant sales, students get the added benefit of earning $12 an hour that will accumulate into a scholarship towards their tuition.

“The time commitment is really just whatever you want to give,” said Valdez. “Meetings occur every once in a while and plant sales generally go for a few hours. You can stop in at any time of the day and keep track of your hours for payment. You get what you put in.”

“We’re growing our quality plants, start to finish, but during sales, the club members are dealing with the public,” said Jamie Holden, the horticulture club advisor and a WSU horticulture professor. “They’re answering the questions that customers have and getting real-world retail and business experience.”

Holden said he is very hands-off as an advisor, which provides plenty of valuable leadership experiences for the members of the club who want to pursue it.

According to an article from the Mayo Clinic, growing plants can provide relaxation for mental health. It’s also a tool to learn about the kinds of foods students eat. The horticulture club is home to a special type of tomato, grown specifically for the Palouse, called Cougar Reds.

Everything grown in the horticulture club is up for sale. Plant sales, starting in the spring, will be advertised in the Palouse area closer to sale times — so watch the local Facebook groups.

“We haven’t started our meetings for the semester yet,” said Valdez. “Anyone interested in joining the club can really start at any time of the year.”

Students interested in joining the club should email [email protected] to get on the email list or follow @horticulture_club_wsu on Instagram to get into contact.

“Horticulture club is an excellent space if you’re looking to have fun in a green environment,” said Valdez, “and maybe take a plant or two home.”