Peel - Students in horticulture programs at West Credit and North Peel secondary schools have been getting their hands dirty preparing for the schools' annual plant sales on May 10 and 15. From planting to arrangement, customer service to sales, the horticulture course teaches students transferable skills and prepares them for the workforce.

To culminate a year of learning and hard work, West Credit will host a Family Fun Day and plant sale on May 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. "The plant sale is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the great strides that students have made in the horticulture program," said Marcel Giraldi, principal at West Credit. "In addition to the sale of plants, we will showcasing our landscaping and construction students' handy work. Visitors can also enjoy tasty barbeque treats prepared and served by West Credit students."

Keeping with its 25-year tradition, North Peel will host a spring sale on May 15 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. North Peel will extend the sale from May 16 to the end of the school year from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"The annual spring sale is a great, real-life learning experience for students," says Don Ablett, principal at North Peel, "Through the sale and by participating in the horticulture and landscaping programs, students acquire valuable skills that ensure they're industry-ready upon graduation. In addition to the sale, we're looking forward to showcasing the community park being worked on by students in our landscaping program—our school's contribution to Brampton's Communities in Bloom."

Plants that will be available for sale at the schools include:

• annual bedding plants
• geraniums
• herbs
• perennial plants
• pond plants and fish
• sapling trees
• tropical plants
• various vegetables

West Credit's Family Fun Day and plant sale will be held behind the school at 6325 Montevideo Rd. in Mississauga. In Brampton, North Peel's spring sale will be held at the North Peel Secondary School Garden Centre, located at 1305 Williams Parkway, at the rear of the building.

The horticulture programs at North Peel and West Credit are one of many hands-on courses offered at the schools. Operating like businesses, these programs prepare students for entry into the workplace through the many tasks they perform for events in their school, the community and the Peel District School Board.