As one season ends and another begins, we notice that nature, in her own way, prepares herself. Leaves fall from trees, animals prepare for long cold winters by storing food and preparing dens, and we humans too, do many things as well to prepare. For people with gardens, one of those tasks is putting the garden to bed. Here at Unquowa our tasks are no different. This past Friday, the fifth grade, led by Kevin Smith, one of our PEL fellows, did just that. First, students had a brainstorming discussion led by Mr. Smith in the classroom on why it is important to put the garden to bed. The students discussed the difference between annuals and perennials, why it is important to pull some plants and leave others and the importance of putting trellises and stakes away for use the following spring. Students were then led outside where Mr. Smith assigned groups to different tasks. From clearing out beds, gathering the last of the harvest of vegetables and herbs for the kitchen, spreading compost in a bed for fall planting and gathering seeds for investigations and spring plantings, there were no idle hands present. The students where excited and worked with enthusiasm, knowing all their hard work would lead to another great harvest next season! Thanks Mr. Smith and the fifth grade students for a job well done!