News

Born and raised in Tatamagouche, NS, and now raising her two children with her husband in her hometown, Chelsea Baird is happy to return to her alma mater as the outdoor classroom and landscape manager, 15 years after graduating from the environmental horticulture program at NSAC.

Fresh off graduation, Chelsea was hired for the grounds maintenance supervisor position with the Town of New Glasgow, where she was responsible for the overall beautification and horticultural care of the municipality.

After seven years with the Town of New Glasgow, Chelsea then went on to become the town horticulturist with the Town of Amherst. Throughout her years in the municipal horticulture world, she was responsible for anything and everything horticulture-related – from designing annual floral displays, to the management of the municipality’s respective urban forests, and the maintenance and care of turf and turf facilities. Her past employment saw her in a managerial role where she was responsible for the training and management of horticulture staff.

Her hobbies and interests include playing sports and watching her kids play sports. Some of her favourites include softball, golf, and hockey, and she enjoys being outside - camping, hiking, travelling and anything beach-related.

As the outdoor classroom and landscape manager at the Faculty of Agriculture, Chelsea supervises the botanical garden and horticultural staff while overseeing the maintenance of outdoor classroom spaces, including orchard, gardens, greenhouses, and living/green walls, as well as managing those who are responsible for coordinating research space in the Demonstration Garden and Plumdale Research Facility.

What is a typical day like for you?

A typical day is spent coordinating and collaborating with others regarding the use of campus gardens and grounds and use of facilities for which I am responsible. I try and take a break from my desk by taking a daily stroll through the Collins greenhouse or throughout the gardens.

How unique and special is it to have a botanical garden in the Village of Bible Hill accessible to our community?

The Village of Bible Hill and our surrounding communities are truly blessed to have such a beautiful and easily accessible botanical garden in their midst. To have this calibre of public garden and green space within a small municipality is incredible. This campus is renowned for its lush beauty of mature trees and gardens, its extensive Rock Garden and more. The Botanical Garden has been a beautiful backdrop and plays host to many prom, wedding, and special family photoshoots.

What is the role of the outdoor classroom?

The outdoor classroom plays an integral role on campus. It offers students the ability to put their acquired education into practical use, in real time. Students can use the campus to help develop practical skills and learn from hands-on experience from the beginning stage to the final stage or in some cases, from seed to harvest. The outdoor classroom is an asset to the Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences department and the educational experience that students are lucky to gain while attending school here. Our campus offers up opportunities for students from garden design and installation to fruit and vegetable production and everything in between.

How important is horticulture to the overall well-being of our campus, its people, and our community?

Horticulture enriches our lives and promotes human well-being. It sustains and enhances our lives by influencing the quality of the air that we breathe, provides us with nutritious food, encourages a diversity of wildlife habitats, and in addition to its physical and nutritional health benefits, horticulture uniquely provides important mental well-being benefits. Our campus is quite diverse and showcases the many facets of horticulture, from seed to flower/harvest and it is an asset to our students and the community at large.

What is your favourite aspect of the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus?

I feel like it would be odd if I said anything but the gardens. The Alumni Gardens, the Rock Garden, and the mature trees are all my favourite aspects of our campus. We have such a diverse array of plants and trees on campus, and I look forward to working with my team to build upon and help to reinvigorate the gardens and overall landscape of campus for students and visitors alike to enjoy.