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Last year, an empty school courtyard was transformed into a garden/outdoor classroom. The students were able to dig, plant, and watch many different kinds of herbs and vegetables grow. The garden is starting its second growing season and in order to plant the next crop the current soil needs to be replenished. The goal is to ready the soil so my current students will be able to observe an entire growing season, harvest the crop, and eat the fruits of their labor thus providing the students with a hands on approach to STEM and healthy eating. The requested tiller/cultivator will be used to turn the soil and chop up the plants, from the last growing season, in the garden's raised beds thus allowing the remains of the last growing season to provide nutrients to the next season's plantings. While this could be done by hand but it would take many hours and the soil may not be ready to start planting in time for the students to see the complete growing cycle, soil to harvest. Once the soil has been turned, the students will get busy mixing the tilled soil with the additionally needed soil before planting the seed and plants of the next crop. The students enjoy working in the outdoor classroom filling the Hummingbird feeders, watching the caterpillars, digging in the soil, finding worms, and picking whatever is available to harvest. Currently, the students are harvesting peppers and marigold blossoms. I am asked everyday by students, "Will we be going to the garden/outdoor classroom today?"
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