The Indiana State Science Standards mandates me to teach the seventh-graders so they can “describe physical and chemical characteristics of soil layers and how they are influenced by the process of soil formation (including the action of bacteria, fungi, insects and other organisms).”

I tried to think of how I could get students to think about dirt or soil — one of the most important things on earth that we cannot live without.

...

But I wanted them to think a little bit more and it just so happened Sara Stalter, Director Food & Nutrition Services, Indiana University Health - Goshen Hospital/Sodexo, called me up from and wondered if we wanted to help her start a Community Garden just south of the Retreat - across the street from Goshen Middle School.