What would the soil be like at Bellwether Farm? That was the question I asked myself all winter while I waited for the snow to melt and reveal the hidden earth beneath it. I’d seen the soil test and knew it needed a lot of love and care, namely in the form of organic matter (e.g. compost). However, it’s really hard to know how things are going to grow until you’ve had a year of experience on a particular piece of land. Three months in, with the help of lots of volunteers and a giant mountain of compost, I’m happy to say we have an abundance of vegetables in this inaugural farm season at Bellwether Farm!

On June 17 through 22, nearly twenty 4th and 5th graders descended upon Bellwether Farm. They were here for St. Paul’s, Cleveland Heights’ Reading Camp. While the campers came to learn reading skills, they also experienced outdoor programs at the farm that provided context for the things they read throughout the week. I taught some of those programs, but in the end, the 4th and 5th graders taught me a lot.