Sometimes it takes years

This garden was supposed to be full of corn, squash and beans this fall. 
 

What happened?
 

Last year’s third grade reclaimed this space for regenerative agriculture, fertilizing it with seaweed in the fall and planting seeds in the spring.
 

But nothing grew.
 

Last year’s third grade had some theories. 
 

They learned that the garden bed used to be mulched each year, and concluded that the weight of the mulch had compacted the soil.
 

Over the past few weeks, the now-fourth-graders took the top layer of compacted soil off the top—almost a ton of it!—and ferried it off to the space by the Hilltop garden.
 

Today, third grade officially took over the garden by adding a layer of fresh, uncompacted compost to the garden.
 

They also planted cover crops that break up soil.
 

In the weeks ahead, they will add new seaweed as fertilizer.
 

In the spring, they will plant corn, squash and bean seeds.
 

Next fall, they will see if their work paid off.
 

Gardening provides lessons in sustainability, soil science, botany and engineering.
 

And, as the years go by, Gordon is learning that gardening also offers lessons in patience, persistence, planning, and the slow, never-ending cycles of the earth.