Students sat on the fresh lumber edges of the garden, admiring the finely turned soil of the first community garden at West Elementary School recently.
Nick Goeke, a Central Missouri Master Gardener, laid down a tape measure and then fourth-grader Jayida Brandt had the first turn with the hoe.
"It's difficult to stay close to the tape for a straight line," she said.
But plenty of adult volunteers were there to help.
"We can't have crooked rows of lettuce," teacher Julie Horn said with a smile.