Sarah Martin - Horticulture Mentor

Sarah Martin came into Horticulture via a different pathway from most. Sarah was introduced to horticulture at Rangeview Intermediate in Auckland where they had a horticulture club. The teacher was inspiring and introduced the students to the tomato, ‘Yellow Pear’. The teacher told the students that they were only the second group in NZ to grow this tomato cultivar. This really inspired Sarah, she said it was a ‘tangible spark’ which ignited her passion. Sarah found horticulture  ‘cool, creative, fun and engaging’. She then moved on to studying Horticulture at Avondale college where she won the Year 12 end of year Horticulture prize.

When asked why some students don’t think highly of horticulture, she explained that many young people don’t view it as an intellectual subject. She believes that when you’re genuinely passionate about something, it becomes easier to engage with and understand. After working in the industry, she sees how important it is for secondary schools to oƯer horticulture, as it exposes students to opportunities they might not otherwise consider. She even stayed in touch with her own horticulture teacher after leaving school.

Sarah knew she liked science but was not sure if there was a pathway in horticulture, so she chose to do nursing.  She knew you would also have a job and you could travel when you have a nursing degree. She was involved with nursing for several years, but it was while being a nurse onsite at one of the isolation hotels during COVID lockdown that Sarah started to think about her future.  She wondered if she would still be a nurse in 50 years time, she wondered if she would still be the same compassionate nurse that she was now especially with such a demanding workload.

Sarah thought back to her time at high school studying horticulture and decided that maybe there was an opportunity for a career after all.  When searching online for a place to study horticulture she found that Massey University oƯered online, part time study of horticulture.  This meant that she could do part time nursing to pay for her tuition while studying.  Sarah signed up.

The online platform was easy to navigate, which made distance study especially accessible. She appreciated being able to access lectures and tutorials at times that suited her—an advantage for students with families, jobs, or other commitments. The flexibility was so effective that Sarah was able to work as a nurse in Cambodia for a full year, while continuing her online studies.

A memorable paper for Sarah was Plants and People, which examined how human–plant relationships are shaped culturally, spiritually, and practically. It highlighted the diverse roles plants play in everyday life, from providing food and fibre to forming the materials that underpin infrastructure. The paper was led by Jennifer Tate, whose teaching brought these connections to life.

After finishing at Massey, she worked at the Auckland Botanical gardens which gave her a foundation in Amenity horticulture and botany which she really enjoyed.  Sarah then completed a Horticulture Therapy course which helped her into a job working on the Waitakere Hospital grounds with clients, most of whom lived with mental health issues.

The service operated a two-acre market garden, including hydroponics and two tunnel houses, maintained by a team of three to four staff. Simply being in a green space offered significant passive benefits. The gardens allow clients to move at their own pace and in a gentle way.  Physical tasks helped many clients slow their thoughts, reduce anxiety, and regain a sense of control.

Horticulture therapy created opportunities for people who valued both the health sector and horticulture. It supported clients in building self-confidence—such as one individual who, despite avoiding eye contact, gradually became comfortable talking with others while working in the garden.

Sarah says she was able to apply much of what she learned at Massey University—particularly around hydroponics and glasshouse systems—in her role as a horticulture therapist. When she began at Woodford, the hydroponic structure was in place but had not been operating for some time; she was able to repair and restore it, and it is now running smoothly. She also draws frequently on her knowledge of soils, crop loading, post-harvest practices, optimal harvest timing, and the reasons behind different harvesting decisions. Her studies in orchard infrastructure and training systems continue to inform her work every day.

Sarah has now segwayed into the role of Horticulture Hand at Mt Albert Grammar where she is already making her mark.  Sarah is an energetic person who absolutely loves what she is doing.  Sarah has great ideas moving forward at the school.  Replanting the kiwifruit orchard, creating an espalier orchard and introducing permaculture.

She encourages students to consider horticulture seriously, as there are many job opportunities available. New Zealand has vast growing spaces and the land to support a wide range of horticultural careers. If you love something, she says, pursue it—horticulture offers far more variety than simply managing an orchard. The possibilities are broad, meaningful, and continually growing.