Community Transition Program’s Plant Sale supports education

Take a look at all the plants for sale at a unique PPS school campus, during their annual Green Thumb Plant Sale. Hurry! It ends on Mother’s Day this weekend …

There’s a lot to see, and purchase, at the annual Green Thumb Plant Sale in SE Portland this year.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Returning this year, the Portland Public School Community Transition Program (CTP) put on the Green Thumb Plant Sale in April and May at their Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood campus.

These CPT students who grow and care for the plants are young adults, ages 18-21, who each have an “Individualized Education Plan”, and graduate from high school with either a modified diploma or an extended diploma.

Telling about her experience of the Greenhouse Program is CTP student Emily Wiggin.

“I really like transplanting and labeling plants,” CTP student Emily Wiggin told THE BEE East Portland News about her participation in the program. “I like learning new tasks, also. The greenhouse internship is helping me build skills and gain independence. Being in this calm and quiet space helps me learn. It’s fun to try it out!”

Shopping for plants are Keeley Alexander and Anthony Heatherly from Southeast Portland.

With a greenhouse chock full of all kinds of flora, gardeners find browsing among the tables is a wonderland. Some shoppers told us they always purchase more plants then they’d intended to!

“This isn’t just about the Plant Sale; it’s about the whole process of our students getting the plants all the way to this point: Ready to sell,” explained CTP Principal Tricia Curley at the April 20th opening day.

Principal of Community Transition Program Tricia Curley says their program helps students prepare for life after school by teaching work skills.

“That is, we help students with disabilities learn many different skills that they need to learn how to do gardening. This includes planting, propagating, and caring for plants. It gives students work experience and job readiness skills, and prepares them for employment, after leaving school.”

There’s still time to get in on the Green Thumb Plant Sale – it ends this Sunday – Mother’s Day, May 12.

Green Thumb Plant Sale ends May 12
If you go this weekend, you’ll find the Green Thumb Plant Sale greenhouse still loaded with plenty of plants from which to choose.

It’s open on May 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Community Transition Program campus, at 6801 SE 60th Avenue, 97206 – right across from Brentwood Park.

For more information: CLICK HERE.

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