Renaissance

     What comes to your mind when you hear the word "gardening?" Do you think of seeding the earth with various forms of vegetation and caring for it until new life sprouts from the previously vacant soil? Such a thought was in my mind when I signed up for a small gardening project for both extra credit and the chance to lend a hand to the campus. However, when I was led out to the garden with a large group of my peers, I found that we were to do the opposite of what I had in mind; we were to tear an old garden apart to make room for a replacement. After looking the small plot over, I understood the task we were given; although some flowers still remained, the land was overrun with tall grass and weeds, trumping the elegance of the still remaining flowers. With forty minutes to spare and a plethora of idle hands ready to work, we all set out to clear the garden.

     The work itself wasn't particularly hard, even though we were only given a small supply of gloves and two plastic tools. Within the forty minutes we were given, we managed to tear out a large portion of the garden. At the very least, we had managed to fill ten garbage bags with unwanted vegetation, and had made a noticeable difference to the small garden. The experience itself was also quite entertaining, and provided me with a chance to interact with my friends while simultaneously assisting the community. Everyone present picked out the bright flowers dotted throughout the garden and made use of them in one way or another. Many people wore them in their hair, or bagged them up to take home as a decoration or present. I picked out a small group of dark pink and white flowers that matched well with my shirt and tucked them into my front pocket, simply to have them there. After all was said and done, the group of students that helped clear the garden posed near the garden for a picture before heading off to grab their possessions. By the time we had finished, the school day was nearly over, and we were ready to head home to wash the smell of the flora off of ourselves.

     Now, all I can do is sit back and watch the garden begin its rejuvenation, eagerly awaiting new life to sprout once more from the newly upturned soil.