A Garden on the School Roof

At one high school in Tainan, the roof of the science building used to be an empty, 1—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable space that nobody visited. Two years ago, a group of students 2—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable a plan to turn it into a vegetable garden. The principal liked the idea and gave them 3—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable to start, as long as they took care of the garden themselves.

The first months were not easy. The sun was strong, and the young plants 4—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable needed water. The students made a schedule so that someone would water the garden every morning before class. They also learned to make 5—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable from fruit peels and old leaves, which helped keep the soil healthy.

Slowly, their hard work began to pay off. By the end of the first year, the garden was 6—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable tomatoes, green beans, and sweet potato leaves. Some of the vegetables were even 7—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable in the school cafeteria, and students were proud to eat food they had grown with their own hands.

The garden has also changed the way students 8—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable with one another. Students from different classes, who once hardly spoke, now work side by side and share tips. Teachers say the project has taught 9—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable lessons that no textbook can offer, such as patience and teamwork. For many students, the roof is no longer a place to 10—A avoidB compostC constantlyD interactE permissionF producingG proposedH servedI unusedJ valuable but a place they look forward to visiting.