November 11, 2024
Julissa Litterick
Psychology, food security and social justice take Julissa Litterick to new heights
While in her final year in the Horticulture Technician program at Fanshawe College in London, Ont., Julissa Litterick received a $2,000 Cullen Family Scholarship in 2023 from the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation (Foundation). The Cullen Scholarships are designed to encourage and inspire leadership qualities in students who have a passion and enthusiasm for the landscape horticulture industry. Scholarships are awarded to contribution-oriented candidates who possess integrity, honesty, perseverance and initiative and who care about their fellow students, teachers, community and industry. Candidates must be nominated by the coordinator of their program and be involved in a full-time Landscape or Horticultural program at select schools.
In 2021, I sustained a serious concussion, which I am still feeling the impact of over three years later. Gardening and walking in nature have been vital for my recovery.
I had not planned to go to college after my undergrad, but I am glad I discovered Fanshawe's horticulture technician program. The practical skills I have learned at Fanshawe have helped me gain confidence and agency. For example, the Arboriculture II course introduced me to the world of climbing. It has sparked my passion for rock climbing, and I have since become belay certified.
Most importantly, the horticulture program has allowed me to cultivate connections with the land and create community. Learning to identify plants has made me more aware of the world around me, deepening my relationship with the land I live on. Noticing nature has made me more present in my day-to-day life and my health has dramatically improved as I spend more of my time being physically active. Furthermore, building a network of people who are also passionate about plants and protecting the environment has given me a sense of place and belonging.
I hope to pursue a career in horticultural therapy and complete a Master’s in landscape architecture. My goal is to design accessible landscapes and teach people about the value of plants. I also want to support other women, queer and disabled people in finding meaningful, safe work in the horticultural industry.
The horticulture department has many teachers who have helped me succeed at Fanshawe. Teachers such as Matt Hart, Tim Elliot, Steven Duesberry, Jeff Rowley, Becky Moule and Alex Osborne have gone out of their way to make the classroom more accessible to me. I am grateful for their mentorship. However, I want to highlight three exceptional role models within the horticulture department, my boss Cindy Buelow, my supervisor Amadeo Giancolo and my plant identification professor Pamela Cook.
How did you get exposed to the landscape and horticulture profession?
My parents participated in a community garden near London's airport. I have fond memories of our garden neighbour letting me pick fresh blackberries from his shrubs. Gardening and hiking in nature has always been therapeutic for me, but I didn't realize I could seriously pursue horticulture as a career until I met a horticultural therapist through my volunteer work.What prompted you to pursue a career in the green trades?
Before attending Fanshawe, I graduated with distinction from the Bachelors of Arts & Sciences in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Nutrition and Nutraceutical Sciences program at the University of Guelph. In my undergrad, I volunteered as a food security and food literacy advocate with the Middlesex London Food Policy Council (MLFPC) and the Arrell Food Institute’s Feeding 9 Billion Team. Through these organizations and my undergraduate research on food insecurity, I discovered my passion for urban agriculture.In 2021, I sustained a serious concussion, which I am still feeling the impact of over three years later. Gardening and walking in nature have been vital for my recovery.
I had not planned to go to college after my undergrad, but I am glad I discovered Fanshawe's horticulture technician program. The practical skills I have learned at Fanshawe have helped me gain confidence and agency. For example, the Arboriculture II course introduced me to the world of climbing. It has sparked my passion for rock climbing, and I have since become belay certified.
Most importantly, the horticulture program has allowed me to cultivate connections with the land and create community. Learning to identify plants has made me more aware of the world around me, deepening my relationship with the land I live on. Noticing nature has made me more present in my day-to-day life and my health has dramatically improved as I spend more of my time being physically active. Furthermore, building a network of people who are also passionate about plants and protecting the environment has given me a sense of place and belonging.
What do you plan to do next?
Since completing the program, I’ve been hired as a part-time curator at the college. I manage the plant collection records for both the main Oxford St. campus and for the Mac Cuddy Botanic Gardens in Strathroy, Ont. I have also been hired by the college as a part-time instructor. This semester, I am teaching the Horticulture and Soils course for dual-credit high school students through the School Within A College (SWAC) program.I hope to pursue a career in horticultural therapy and complete a Master’s in landscape architecture. My goal is to design accessible landscapes and teach people about the value of plants. I also want to support other women, queer and disabled people in finding meaningful, safe work in the horticultural industry.
Who are your role models in the landscape profession?
Not only have I learned many important skills through the horticulture technician program, I have made many meaningful connections with my classmates and professors. My cohort is composed of many talented and caring individuals, many of whom have become dear friends. My classmates and I worked together to support each other’s learning and to make each class accessible. I am grateful to be a part of this community.The horticulture department has many teachers who have helped me succeed at Fanshawe. Teachers such as Matt Hart, Tim Elliot, Steven Duesberry, Jeff Rowley, Becky Moule and Alex Osborne have gone out of their way to make the classroom more accessible to me. I am grateful for their mentorship. However, I want to highlight three exceptional role models within the horticulture department, my boss Cindy Buelow, my supervisor Amadeo Giancolo and my plant identification professor Pamela Cook.