Cline students have been observing the changes in our garden for the past several months. Kindergarten students planted the 3 sisters (corn, beans, and squash), a native American way of planting crops. Students learned how the three plants depend on each other. The corn gains nitrogen from the beans, the beans use the upright growth of the corn for support, and the squash shades the ground reducing the weeds around the plants. Amaranth, another plant Native American's used was planted this fall. The students were amazed at how tall it grew. This plant was used for eating like spinach, the red color was used as a dye, and the seeds were harvested as grain. Cucumbers, cabbage, pumpkins, and broccoli were also grown this fall by some 3rd grade classes. One of the highlights and favorite of the garden was Cline's resident spider, which could be seen blending in with the wild flowers. Students even witnessed the spider capturing a bee.