Sewickley Academy student nurtures campus greenhouse after growing hiatus
Emma Ehan of Sewickley is using her green thumb to dig into an ongoing horticultural project at Sewickley Academy.
Ehan, a junior, loves to garden and tend to plants and now she’s using her skills to manage and tend to the dozens of plants growing inside the campus greenhouse.
“My grandpa used to be a farmer in China and during covid I wanted lots of plants,” Ehan said. “I got one, then it became 10 and then 30 and now I have about 90 plants. I’m super into plants.”
When a former environmental science teacher who handled the greenhouse left his post at the academy several years ago, Ehan stepped up and expressed an interest in reviving the vacant greenhouse.
“The greenhouse had become a storage room because no one was using it and the blinds were actually closed because it was so messy,” she said.
Under Ehan’s care, the climate-controlled room bathed in natural light has returned to its greenhouse roots and is filled with dozens of plants that include begonias, inpatients, spider plants, a bonsai plant and even an avocado tree.
“I love doing research on plants and I wanted somewhere to bring my own plants. Now, different teachers will bring their plants,” Ehan said.
It took her several months to organize the space and she logs her greenhouse time during her free period and lunchtime.
It’s near the lunchroom and easily visible to students passing by.
Ehan credits the zen-like space as a stress-buster, especially because her junior year of high school has significant academic demands.
“It’s so calming here. To be able to go somewhere where there’s a lot of light and warmth and green things everywhere — it just grounds me,” Ehan said.
The greenhouse is maintained and stocked thanks to a $1,000 grant awarded to Ehan by Home & School Association run by the school PTO.
Additionally, Ehan is in her second year as a high school intern in the Youth Climate Advocacy Committee (YCAC) at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
“It’s so fun. You learn all of these things about the environment and give you advice on your projects,” Ehan said.
Future plans include using the greenhouse this winter for the Science Buddies program.
The elementary students will visit the greenhouse and learn about plants from Ehan and a few of her high school peers.
Ehan,16, is the daughter of Bing Han and Lidong E.
“My mom told me no more plants after I got 50. I pay for my own plants now,” Ehan said.
Ehan’s favorite plant is the hoya because it’s so hearty.
“You can’t kill it. It’s so resilient and so pretty,” she said.
Sewickley Academy marketing and branding specialist Camryn Miller recently spent time inside the greenhouse with Ehan.
“It’s a safe space and a calming part of campus,” Miller said.
Begonias in several pots are thriving, despite being left behind when former Sewickley Academy senior school math teacher John Basinger died in January.
Ehan watered the begonias and is committed to caring for the plants.
“I wanted to have them in the greenhouse and I love this corner with all of the plants from his room,” Ehan said.
Ehan keeps her grandfather up to date on her greenhouse adventures and he’s expressed his full approval.
“He just loves it. And he doesn’t have to pay for anything. Plants get expensive,” Ehan said.
In addition to reinventing the school greenhouse, Ehan is a cheerleader, plays the flute, is an avid ice skater and coaches youth figure skating, a member of DECA and is involved in the Sewickley Academy global studies program.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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