The Empty Furrow

Ages 12-15

Ditty reaches the school garden after the other groups begin planting.

The middle beds have small seedlings in neat rows. Beside the path, one shallow furrow is empty.

Ditty stands at the end of a busy bed.

Two classmates press soil around their last seedling. Another reaches for the watering can.

Ditty steps toward the empty furrow.

She points to it and asks the organizer, "Which seeds go here?"

The organizer gives her a small packet from the basket. Its picture shows low flowers.

Ditty opens it. She puts one seed in the shallow furrow, then another a little farther along.

A classmate walks past with the full watering can.

Ditty keeps working at the edge.

At the end of the packet, the furrow still has room. She closes the loose earth over the seeds already planted.

The organizer sets down a small can beside her.

Ditty waters the planted strip, keeping its end separate from the empty part.

In the middle bed, the seedlings stand above the soil. At the edge, her watered strip is still bare earth, dark beside the path.