Every year, I start my garden with hope.
I pick delicious herbs and vegetables, prep my garden beds, nurture them and get them started right. Then, of course the summer gets going – complete with out of town visits, family trips, camps, commitments, and all the work I am doing.
By the end of the year, the garden is generally looking pretty bedraggled. The weeds are as tall as some of the plants, vegetables are less prolific as they could have been, and inconsistent harvesting means some beauties get left on the vine until they aren’t edible.
But I know that next year, I’ll start my garden with hope, once again. I’m optimistic that I can manage a few more things this year than last, keep a few more details under control, be a little more successful.
And isn’t that just what teaching is? I don’t know a teacher who doesn’t have a few weeds growing in June in the classrooms they carefully cultivated in August. New approaches didn’t succeed, and the needs of the moment sometimes prevent teachers from living up to their intentions at the outset.
To that I say, keep trying. Keep starting your garden – and your classroom – with hope. A single sungold cherry tomato will put a smile on your face, and a single inspired kid will make a difference for a lifetime.