If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow. The years of early childhood are the time to prepare the soil."
- Rachel Carson
The return of Florida heat is upon us, and the coming of another sweltering summer isn't far off. But heat and all, days really don't get much more beautiful than today.
While the beds at Lakewood and Sanderlin are teeming with squash and colossal cabbage, Cambell's juvenile garden is struggling through these rainless spring days of brilliant sunlight. Andréa and I arrived at Campbell this afternoon to find some of last week's promising growth now looking pretty sad.This poor Papaya was especially bummed out.
Watering young Peace Patches like Campbell and Maximo is the first order of business in the garden. The logs lying 6 feet beneath the surface of these hugelkultur beds require saturation so they can effectively retain moisture and ultimately generate nutrient-rich soil. As we watered the parched garden, I was reminded of how much we share in common with plants. 
We ran into Principal Watson at the front desk, who was busy overseeing this week's administration of the FCAT. He arranged for a class to meet us in the garden.
This juxtaposition of the public school's system of standardized testing and the experiential learning that occurs among in the garden is interesting. I can only hope these children carry their experiences in the Peace Patch into their ever-growing understanding of the world.
Halfway through watering, Ms. Miller's First Grade class met us for their first tour through the Peace Patch.
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