Budding Connections: The horticulture program brings Niji Mahkwa and R.B. Russell students together

Stepping into the greenhouse of R.B. Russell High School, a group of Grade 5 and 6 students from neighbouring Niji Mahkwa School were excited on Wednesday, October 30, as they started a unique learning adventure.  

For the second year, the Horticulture program teacher invited these young students to experience the school's unique horticulture program, continuing the remarkable partnership with opportunities. 

 "I absolutely love sharing our facilities and resources with Niji Makawa and am so excited for all the students to have another year of mentorship with each other," said Louise Shachtay, the Horticulture teacher at R.B. Russell. 

“This year, in addition to our hydroponics and aeroponic classes, we will be touching on more areas that deal with ethnobotany as well as discover the world of mycology.”   

Ethnobotany is the study of the relationship between people and plants. It explores how different cultures use plants for food, medicine, and other purposes, and Mycology is the study of fungi, including mushrooms, molds, and yeasts.  Shachtay explains how this collaboration extends beyond explaining horticultural concepts—it cultivates empathy, confidence, and inspiration in the next generation. 

As the Niji Mahkwa students rotated through hands-on stations, they were guided by their senior student mentors from R.B. Russell's horticulture program. 

These mentors, like second-year student Therese Iragi, are thrilled to share their knowledge and passion. "Being around these kids made my whole day! I was so happy to teach them what we do in horticulture," said Iraqi

"I loved watching them come out of their little bubbles with boosted confidence." 

This partnership benefits both students and teachers of both schools. 

Teaching and mentoring experience help R.B. Russell students gain confidence. "I felt the best way to learn is through teaching," explains Allie James, a first-year horticulture apprentice. 

"Teaching the kids helped me realize how much I've already learned in such a short time. It was nice to hear the kids talk about their home gardens and relate it to what I taught them. As I continue to learn, I hope to keep inspiring with my knowledge of horticulture.”

In addition to exploring R.B. Russell's innovative hydroponics and indoor tower systems, the Niji Mahkwa students received a special presentation from their teacher, Heather Lambert. 

Drawing on her family's ancestral teachings, Lambert shared the cultural significance and practical uses of the wolf willow plant - a remarkable shrub that provides food, medicine, and materials for art. 

"In my role, I focus on incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the program," Heather Lambert explains. "I will acquire tree sticks from my home community, St. Laurent, and we will try to relocate the tree at RB Russell."

This exchange of knowledge and the integration of cultural traditions exemplifies the holistic approach that underpins this partnership, with the community playing a significant role. 

According to Inner City Science Centre teacher Elena Mallin, horticulture collaboration is significant to her students' educational journey. "We are so excited for the hydroponics program to continue for its second year," she says. "Niji Mahkwa students are working with Grade 12 students from R.B. Russell's horticultural program to assemble, grow, and maintain hydroponics towers." 

As the students from both schools continue to learn, mentor, and inspire one another, the future of this partnership looks brighter than ever. Several meetings have been planned throughout the year, and students at Niji Mahkwa will also maintain their own two hydroponic towers with the help of their senior mentors in the horticulture program. The food grown indoors will then be shared with other students at the school.    

Connected through their shared passion for horticulture, Niji Mahkwa and R.B. Russell students are cultivating not just plants but also a deeper appreciation for the natural world and getting an introduction to sustainable education.