Photo by Jessica Maloney,
UNH Human Resources

For tolerating the harsh New England winters such as this past one, the reward is often an incredible appreciation for the beauty of plants, and a yearning for a longer growing season. Who amongst us hasn’t considered stowing away in the Thompson School greenhouses through the last winter months, awaiting the arrival of spring in the midst of warmth, humidity, and the smell of soil? For these reasons, Chris Robarge’s position as Manager of the Thompson School Horticultural Facility may, at times, seem like the most enviable one on campus. The fact that Chris has been in the position for the last thirty years seems to confirm its desirability.

For those of us whose appreciation for flowering plants far surpasses our knowledge of horticulture, the greenhouse production of crops may appear idyllic, but Chris’ work speaks to the complexity of the process. As he states, there is an enormous amount of planning required to produce floriculture crops to meet the particular demands of the season, requiring that he constantly be thinking three to six months ahead. Even the most well-organized and minutely detailed planning does not necessarily ensure perfection when your product depends heavily on forces of nature. The caretaking of plants requires that, in his attempts to meet seasonal deadlines, he manipulate them in relation to the conditions. Such manipulation often involves pinching (shearing off new growth to encourage branching and an increased number of blooms), timing the lighting and shading that they receive and pest management. As decidedly low-tech as gardening in our own yards may be, the production of crops in the horticultural facility entails taking advantage of many technological innovations. For instance, Chris and his students are able to monitor a form of light, called PAR light, through the UNH weather station, to determine how much sunlight plants are receiving. They are also able to calculate averages for different periods of time to determine how conditions have impacted their crops. In all this effort to support the curriculum of the horticulture program, Chris states that he finds watching and showcasing the crops that result from student efforts to be very satisfying.

When asked what he most enjoys about his position, Chris’ enthusiasm for working with students is readily apparent. Teaching labs for the Horticulture program of the Thompson School requires that he work with 25-30 students a semester, not including the two work-study students that he supervises. Chris maintains that working with students helps to keep one “young and energetic.” Working with new faces every year, and being dependent on the ever-changing natural conditions help to bring a very dynamic energy to the position; as Chris states “I never have the same year twice.” Luckily for the Thompson School students, and the University community, that variety means that Chris is still willing to share thirty years worth of knowledge and experience.