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Horticulture

2025 Food Film Showcase

Join us the last Tuesday of each month: January - April 2025!

Film Schedule, at the Horticulture Building:

  • January 28Kiss the Ground
    This inspiring documentary reveals the regenerative power of soil and highlights the role of farming in combating climate change, with a focus on the potential of soil health to heal the planet.
    Partner: Horticulture Department of Cabrillo College, Spring Class Registration Drive

  • February 25Farming While Black
    A powerful exploration of the history and legacy of Black farmers in the U.S., this film dives into the intersection of race, land stewardship, and food sovereignty. Partner: Umoja Club of Cabrillo College

  • March 25Leading Change
    Join us for a celebration of youth changemakers as the Watsonville Film Festival presents a series created by local emerging filmmakers to raise awareness and create opportunities for meaningful discussion about the use of pesticides in our community. Partner: Watsonville Film Festival

  • April 29Gather
    This documentary sheds light on the revitalization of Indigenous food systems and the role of food sovereignty in healing communities and restoring cultural connections. This finale screening will feature a take out dinner plate prepared by students in the Hort 160B class alongside and led by Chef Lonewolf of the Esselen Harvest Festival.
    Partner: Chef Lonewolf

The Cabrillo College Horticulture Department is proud to announce the 2025 Food Film Showcase, a monthly film screening series that explores crucial themes of black equity, sustainability, Indigenous food sovereignty, permaculture, and community life. This exciting new initiative, created by Melissa Schilling of the Horticulture Department and Climate Justice Club, will run on the last Tuesday of each month, from January through April, and is brought to you by the HORT 160B Edible Landscaping Class in Spring 2025.

​​Each month, the Food Film Showcase will partner with a community group to create a richer, more diverse experience, including the Umoja Club, the Watsonville Film Festival, indigenous Chef Christina Lonewolf (Esselen, Big Sur Food Festival), and the Cabrillo College Horticulture Department.

Reserve FREE COMMUNITY tickets

Event Details:

  • Location: Cabrillo College, HORT 5005 Aptos, CA

  • Dates: Last Tuesday of each month, January 28 – April 29, 2025

  • Time: 5-7 PM

  • Admission: Free for students and open to the public

For more information on the Food Film Showcase and the HORT 160B Edible Landscaping Class, please contact instructor Melissa Schilling (meschill@cabrillo.edu)

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View Typical Fall and Spring Course Offerings

Do you have a passion for plants? Love getting your hands dirty and being outside? If so, why not start a well-paying career in horticulture today?

The Horticulture Program provides you with access to world-class facilities and classes taught by experienced faculty with affordable fees. With a limited investment, you will be on a strong path to advance your career and earning potential. Horticulture jobs are in high demand and pay a living wage in our region.

By taking part in any of our Horticulture classes or working toward one of our 10 Certificates or four Associate's Degree you will be prepared for success in fields such as Greenhouse Crop Production, Farm Advisor, Organic Farm Inspector, Hydroponic Food Production, Farmer, Landscape Designer, Seeded Vegetable Transplant Production, Pest Control Advisor, and Marketing & Sales.

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student in nursery area
students and faculty
We're collecting culinary items!
Support HORT 160B with a kitchen lab.
students in farm

Career Outlook

The industry outlook in Horticulture is strong… and it’s changing every day. With climate change combined with the advancement of technology, the industry needs cross- trained professionals who have a strong view of sustainability, know a lot about a lot of different things, and work well with others. Whether growing food or creating sustainable landscaping, the demand is high with good salaries. For example, Landscape Architects earn an average of $88,699, Precision Ag Technicians earn an average of $43,832, and Soil and Plant Scientists earn an average of $73,698. View current labor market analysis to see more.

Landscaping

What You'll Learn

In addition to gaining hands-on experience, you will learn more about:

  • Propagation

  • Organic Food Production

  • Pest Management

  • Controlled Environment Agriculture

  • Sustainable Landscape Design

  • Container Crop Production or Floriculture

  • Soil Science

Learn more

Watch and learn about the hands-on horticulture experience available at Cabrillo College.
plant sale

Our Community

We also are a resource for the community with events, volunteer opportunities and facilities to rent.

We encourage the community to support the program through donations and purchasing from our Farmers Market booth. The Aptos Farmers Market takes place at Cabrillo every Saturday, 8 - 12. All produce and plants sold at our booth are grown by students. Community members are welcome to visit and stroll through our gardens.

hort aerial

The Center

The Environmental Horticulture Center and Botanic Gardens sits on 11 beautiful view acres, overlooking the entire campus and the Monterey Bay region. The Center provides students with an excellent horticultural educational facility and is a focus for community activities. There is a community building with a room for lectures, conferences, meetings and special events. In addition, the community center has a classroom and a learning center. A state-of-the-art nursery includes greenhouses, shade houses, raised beds, and a lab classroom. We also have a CCOF certified organic farm. Read more about our facilities. Cabrillo College also has collections of California natives, especially those from the Monterey Bay region; plants from the Mediterranean regions of the world; and succulents at the Botanic Gardens.

Young plants in greenhouse
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