Three Trent students, Sage Fleming, Meghan Forget and Matthew Zantingh, were all awarded $1,000 scholarships by the Peterborough Horticultural Society recently for their work and studies in horticulture-related fields.

“The members of the Peterborough Horticultural Society are so proud to be able to support the next generation of food and flower growers,” said Mary-Jane Pilgrim, a coordinator for Trent Online and president of the Peterborough Horticultural Society.  “We look forward in eager anticipation to what they are going to be able to accomplish, knowing that we have been a part of it.”

Ms. Fleming is currently enrolled in a Masters degree in Environmental and Life Sciences in the Conservation Biology program at Trent University. Ms. Fleming stays active in community events, volunteers at Greenup, assists with plant sales at Ecology Park, and has worked at the Trent Community Garden. She has taken part in the local survey to assess the number of Ash trees in the city. In the future she hopes to continue in the field of native plant conservation and/or tree disease research.

Ms. Forget is currently studying full-time at Trent University, finishing her second year in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Before her time at Trent she studied part-time in Agriculture and was a stay at home mother to her three and seven year old children. Ms. Forget participates in school and community based projects through the Trent Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Society. She plans to create a Landscaping company specializing in sustainable gardening, permaculture design, and integrated pest management.

Mr. Zantingh is currently in his fourth year of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems at Trent. He has traveled and worked extensively in developing countries fueling a desire to help the less fortunate, think creatively about how we grow, produce and consume food in Canada. He also became concerned with practices and injustices present in our food system today.

Since 2002, the Peterborough Horticultural Society has given away more than $170,000 in scholarships, community grants and Fleming Park maintenance. The money is raised by the very successful Peterborough Garden Show.