LBCC’s Horticulture Program will be hosting a three day Spring Market from April 17 to April 19 in the TTC campus’ garden that will bring students together from the horticulture, ceramics, jewelry and engineering departments, giving them the opportunity to showcase and sell their handmade products to the campus community and public.
Along with the self-grown plants and the unique ceramic and jewelry pieces that students have made, the event will feature continuous workshops all three days alongside an art gallery.
The Spring Market will take place at different times throughout a three day long period, on April 17 it will be open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., on April 18 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on April 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. all taking place at the TTC campus garden, which is located in the NN building.
This market is the first of its kind to incorporate works from the horticulture, ceramics, jewelry and engineering mediums all together.
“You look at the art, interact with students, and if you want to purchase something that’s great,” said Jorge Ochoa, a horticulture professor who is also one of the organizers for this event.
Among the art for sale, Mark Smalley, a jewelry student and artist, will be selling metal rings with distinctively large, natural gemstones.
“I prefer the rawness of the stone, the beauty of it and how it’s sort of natural to the stone as oppose to a polished process,” Smalley said about his ring designs.
Another jewelry artist, Claudia Gallegos will be selling jewelry that encompasses “a combination of feminine and abstract” features, as she described.
A multitude of Gallegos’ jewelry contains chunky elements and delicate flowers.
Ring with shape of a bouquet of flowers made by jewelry student Claudia Gallegos on Thursday, March 29. Gallegos has prepared a big assortment of rings that she will be selling during the LBCC Spring Market at the Horticulture garden on April 17 through the 19. ( Jose Calix) 
Assortment of jewelry made by jewelry student Claudia Gallegos with the purpose of selling at the LBCC spring Market on Thursday, March 29. Gallegos has been working on her pieces since the beginning of the semester. (Jose Calix) 
Rings made by jewelry student Mark Smalley in the jewelry and metal fabrication room at LBCC, Smalley will have plenty of rings to be sold during the Spring Market at the LBCC Horticulture garden on April 17 through 19. (Jose Calix) 
Jewelry Student Mark Smalley in the jewelry and metal fabrication room using a blowtorch to smelt metal on Thursday, March 29 at LBCC. Smalley will have plenty of rings ready to be put up for sale during the Spring Market at the LBCC Horticulture garden on April 17 through 19. (Jose Calix)
Ceramics students will be selling traditional ceramic pieces such as cups, bowls and plates along with sculptures, vases and planter pots.
Cat statues, mythically inspired creatures and troll-like figures are among some of these sculptures being sold.
The artists of these sculptures include Isabella Alvarez, Cassidy Taylor, and Kaitlyn Corona.
Cartoon-esque clay cats made by ceramics student Isabella Alvarez on Thursday, March 29. These clay sculptures are still a work in progress, they will be ready to be sold in the Spring Market at LBCC’s TCC campus on April 17 through the 19. (Jose Calix) 
Clay sculptures with monster features made by ceramics student Cassidy Taylor in the LBCC ceramics room on Thursday, March 29. Taylor is working on a variety of other sculptures that will be put up for sale during the Spring Market from April 17 through the 19. (Jose Calix) 
Troll-like Sculptures made by the ceramics club president Kaitlyn Corona on Thursday, March 29. The sculptures will be put up for sale in the Spring Market at the LBCC TCC campus on April 17 through 19 . (Jose Calix)
Wearable ceramic pieces like necklaces, pins, and keychains will also be sold at the event, and attendees can expect to see ceramics students and professors constructing pieces on a spinning potter’s wheel.
The Horticulture Club wants to introduce the public to new variations of plants that aren’t commonly sold in stores, they will have watermelon plants for sale that when grown will produce yellow colored watermelons, as well as orange colored watermelons.
Following this theme, they will also have non-traditional varieties of tomato plants, including a variety that produces tomatoes which individually can weigh up to two pounds.
Familiar herbs like sage, thyme, and dill will also be available in addition to normal pumpkins, zucchini, and squash plants.
Healthy batch of newly grown tomato plants inside the LBCC horticulture garden’s green house on Thrusday, April 10. The horticulture program and club has been getting ready for the Spring Market by growing a variety of plants that will be sold in the garden from April 17 through 19. (Jose Calix) 
Terrarium made by horticulture student Alma Tamara at LBCC horticulture garden on Thursday, April 10. The terrarium will be on display during the Spring Market on April 17 through 19. (Jose Calix) 
Various recently sprouted plants at the LBCC horticulture garden on Thursday, April 10. All these plants will be put up for sale during the Spring Market at the Spring market on April 17 through 19. (Jose Calix)
The Society of Women Engineers and the Engineering Club will also be present at the market and will sell 3D printed plant pots.
If a student purchases a ceramic or 3D printed plant pot they will receive a free plant potted in their new pot.
Attendees can also expect to learn how to care for plants and how to build decorative plant displays called terrariums.
Purchases can be made via cash, credit card, and tap to pay.