Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Sep 14/01) - Ruth Wright's been polishing her green thumb this summer.

Since mid-July she's worked as an assistant at the Inuvik Community Greenhouse. She started full-time and switched to part-time during August.

Wright does a variety of duties, but said she spends the first 90 minutes to two hours watering plants.

With a laugh, she explained this involves "bending down, standing up, taking a step, bending down -- so it's quite a workout."

Wright also spends a lot of time trimming plants to keep them healthier.

"The tomato plants grow a foot maybe every four days," she explained. "We have to snip them off all the time."

Wright sells produce as well, such as the tomatoes currently on sale. Earlier this year she helped sell bedding plants.

"That was really neat 'cause I started figuring out most of the names now associated with which flower is which."

She also re-pots plants when needed, and has learned how to make arrangements within flower boxes.

"Next year I'll be able to do a lot more. I made one hanging basket and my ivy is right down to the floor now. I'm taking that home soon," Wright said.

"It's been very interesting working up here. I really enjoy it."

She said that one thing she picked up this summer was a love of cherry tomatoes.

"They're gorgeous, they're so delicious. They taste like fruit," she said. "Before this job I didn't like tomatoes. I never even tried ketchup until I was 21 or 22 years old."

The season ends at the greenhouse later this month.

"We'll have to take them all down and chop them all up -- all the plants I mean -- and wash out all the containers and everything, and put everything away."

Wright said her experience this summer will help her grow plants on her own next year.