The little seeds that grewThe little seeds that grewFocusing evaluation efforts

On a sunny Spring day, children dropped little seeds one-by-one in furrows of rich, cool earth. On a sunny Spring day, children dropped little seeds one-by-one in furrows of rich, cool earth.

Hand-made signs marked rows of radishes and lettuce, peas, beans, and carrots. Hand-made signs marked rows of radishes and lettuce, peas, beans, and carrots.

A few days later, little stems rose in neat rows beyond the marker sticks. A child asked, “Can we pick them yet?”

A few days later, little stems rose in neat rows beyond the marker sticks. A child asked, “Can we pick them yet?”

“When the fruit looks like this picture,” dad explained, pointing to a faded package, “The crop will be ready.”“When the fruit looks like this picture,” dad explained, pointing to a faded package, “The crop will be ready.”

Sun and wind dried the soil after days of rain. Little stems became little plants, surrounded by weeds.Sun and wind dried the soil after days of rain. Little stems became little plants, surrounded by weeds.

After weeding, mulching, and re-seeding the bare spots, radishes were thinned and wiry peas tied to strings. “It can’t be long now,” the child thought.

After weeding, mulching, and re-seeding the bare spots, radishes were thinned and wiry peas tied to strings. “It can’t be long now,” the child thought.