First graders plant herbs to use to study the five senses in second grade. Second graders plant pumpkins to use for seed studies in the third grade. Third graders plant everlastings to use in dried flower arrangements for art and studying flower parts in fourth grade. Fourth graders plant potatoes and onions to use for microscope work in fifth grade. Fifth graders plant pumpkins and tomatoes to use in sixth grade for Halloween activities with kindergarten buddies.
Sixth graders sell plants to raise money for the garden.
This system lets the children plant a vegetable or begin a project in the spring that they harvest and study in the fall. In the beginning it seemed that we faced a new set of problems each year. In spite of these trials and tribulations, the project continued as a labor of love. Since summer vacation occurs during the peak gardening time, Hanscom organized the Denali 4-H club to handle gardening and landscaping during this season. Man can choose to develop land in a positive way or a negative way.