Preparing the Plant Food
Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2026 10:35 pm
by Bedwyr
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Byddaf yn gweld y Byd.
Byddaf yn profi
llawenydd a phoen.
Yna byddaf yn dod adref
ac yn dod o hyd i gariad.
Draconic Date
Byddaf yn profi
llawenydd a phoen.
Yna byddaf yn dod adref
ac yn dod o hyd i gariad.
Draconic Date
The cold of the world outside was being fought off by walls of Saoire’s school. Bedwyr found himself helping to teach a class about farming and gardening. Bedwyr still worked with his students learning Draconic but farming was his passion.
He stood in the greenhouse found within the school amused by the variety of places to be found within the school. The blue eyed Hyludin looked over the supplies that had been brought for the class. They didn’t really have much room for true gardening but he was going to start small. From what he understood his students weren’t adults but youth who had expressed an interest in gardening. He had pots for everyone a couple actually with good fresh soil and seeds.
He stood next to the table his gaze looking over everything and his tailing flicking as it did when he thought. He looked up as the first of his students came into the room. A Fox Cadouri they sauntered in as if they owned the place. Bedwyr smiled at the fox. “Welcome.” He said. The fox just looked at him and rolled her eyes. Bedwyr raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Neither said anything but the Hyludin had to control his expression as the fox looked around for something. He guessed it was a chair she was looking for. Bedwyr had a work table with everything they needed on it but it was set up so all of them would have to stand. There was a look of surprise on her face at the total lack of seating.
Other students began to come in at that point. Most of them were Cadouri but a few of the human like races where finding there way into the room as well. These students seemed more excited about what they were doing and gathered around the table. Some of them looked at Bedwyr with wonder and excitement something that still unnerved the farmer/teacher. Wings, tails and horns were something that was just to be expected. For him there was still something off as he meet people and they didn’t have said appendages. For others the presences of them still just made people stair.
He smiled though at each as walked in and also extended a verbal welcome to them. Greetings were returned and so names were asked and given. Bedwyr took in their names and eventually the count of students matched the count he had been told to expect. His eyes looked over each of them as they walked in. Most of the class were youths, though there was one who while still a youth was a humand closer to adulthood who was standing awkwardly back from the others.
Bedwyr smiled at the class and said in his slightly accented way. “Welcome to class everyone. To make sure you are in the right class this is a beginning gardening class.”
“Umm” A squirrel Cadouri said raising her hand but not waiting to actually be called upon. “I am supposed to be in a farming class.”
Bedwyr looked at the student with a raised eyebrow but answered the question. “I believe the word is semantics.” He said with a smile, “This is a class to teach you how to take care of a plant and not kill it right away. If you use that knowledge to plant a field or make a garden is your choice.” He looked around at the other members of the class. The Fox Cadouri was still in the back though was looking at the squirrel Cadouri with amusement. The older human youth was still looking awkward in the back and the squirrel Cadouri was bouncing a raised hand trying to get his attention again.
“How about we start with introductions before we jump into questions and the lessons.” He said. “I am Bedwyr and you are.” He said and pointed to the Squrrel whose had had only come halfway down before shooting up again. “Serenity.” The squirrel said. Bedwyr recognized he word and though he recognized they what it meant but was surprised it was a name. He nodded though and said. “Nice to meet you Serenity.” He moved down the line, well as much as there was on. The older youth said his name was Deryck and the fox said her name was Ruby.
“Okay now Serenity you had a question.” Bedwyr said remembering the hand raised before he asked about names. Serenity appeared to have forgotten that she had a question and then remembered it and said. “Where are the fields?” Bedwyr smiled at the question and motioned to the pots and planters on the table.
“Unless you are working with someone one on one the best way to start learning about caring for plants is to start with a couple and work up to larger amounts plants at a time.” He waved to the dirt. “Okay who is ready to get dirty?” He said and there was general excitement. “Good. Understanding dirt is the first and important part about growing plants.”
He showed them different dirt types and explained to them about them. “Different plants grow in different places because they like soil there. Some soils are liked by a lot of types of plants even if they are from different parts of the world.” He indicated to the rick dark soil he had the most of. “Other plants need other needs and won’t do well in a rich soil. So it is important for you have an understanding of where your plant comes from and what type of soil it grows there. “A vegetable that grows in the mountains might only grown in the mountain valleys with different soil then rockier soil on the mountain itself.”
There was a series of confused looks, and a series of understanding looks. He paused to see if the confused people would ask questions. He pulled over some rocky soil and instructed the students to actually take turns and dig their hands into the soils so they could compare. He stepped back and walked over to the Fox Cadouri who was still standing at the back.
He spoke quietly and said. “Is there something I can help with.”
“Not unless you can get me out of this class.” The Fox said. Bedwyr blinked not sure if he should be offended.
“We can get you a different instructor if you like.” He said.
“Its not the teacher it’s the class.”
“You don’t want to garden.” Bedwyr realized it was stating the obvious, but he felt that Ruby saying the answer for her own ears was important.
“No” Ruby said.
“Then you don’t have to come.” Bedwyr said amused by the whole conversation.
“My parents said I had to learn some skills.” The Fox said.
“Well I can’t make you learn anything, but if you have to be here then I am more then happy to help make this more interesting. What type of plant would you like to grow.” Bedwyr asked.
Ruby had a surprised look on her face as he said that. “I hadn’t thought about it.” She frowned and then said. “I like roses.”
Bedwyr nodded his head. “Okay lets work on you growing a rose bush.” He looked at the dirt were the kids where still testing it. “You do have to do the growing. Today I don’t have any rose plants but if you participate I will get some.”
“Your just trying to humor me.” She said.
“Yes, if growing a rose bush will get you interested I we will do that.”
He left Rudy then and moved back to keep the other students moving quickly since some of them seem to taking a long turn. Afterwards the kids seemed understand what he meant by the soil types. “Everyone wants to just to planting the seeds or the plant but the first step is actually to prepare the soil.” He picked up soil that hadn’t been played with it came up with clumps. “The roots of a plant need room to grow. So you must prepare the soil by losing it up. I would like everyone to take a stick and draw a circle of how big of any area you would need to prepare for say a rose bush” He said pointing to the ground.
The class began to draw circles on the ground. Most were small, one went very big, but none were really the correct size. Ruby didn’t draw but she was watching. Bedwyr came in and explained about root growth and drew a circle larger then the others but not as large as the biggest circle. “Now this circle may differ depending on the type of rose. There are some that never really get wider then this.” He indicated with his hands. “So you don’t need to make it bigger then this. Other roses if left alone could get as wide as the table, but you don’t really need to dig a hole that big. Partly because a rose bush that wide would be un practical. But also because anything beyond this size will be strong enough to spread its roots.”
He stood up and indicated to the various pots and the dirt. “We are planning on starting seeds in pots that can be planted in the ground later.” He said and brought out the dirt. “Lets prepare the dirt for the soil. I have some seeds here ready to plant, but if you want some else specific then I can see about getting a seeds for it next time.”
The class came forward and began to work. Once everyone was done and Bedwyr seemed distracted he noticed Ruby grab a larger pot and began to fill with the soil and break it up. The Hyludin didn’t say anything and pretended not to notice as he continued to help his other students.
He stood in the greenhouse found within the school amused by the variety of places to be found within the school. The blue eyed Hyludin looked over the supplies that had been brought for the class. They didn’t really have much room for true gardening but he was going to start small. From what he understood his students weren’t adults but youth who had expressed an interest in gardening. He had pots for everyone a couple actually with good fresh soil and seeds.
He stood next to the table his gaze looking over everything and his tailing flicking as it did when he thought. He looked up as the first of his students came into the room. A Fox Cadouri they sauntered in as if they owned the place. Bedwyr smiled at the fox. “Welcome.” He said. The fox just looked at him and rolled her eyes. Bedwyr raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Neither said anything but the Hyludin had to control his expression as the fox looked around for something. He guessed it was a chair she was looking for. Bedwyr had a work table with everything they needed on it but it was set up so all of them would have to stand. There was a look of surprise on her face at the total lack of seating.
Other students began to come in at that point. Most of them were Cadouri but a few of the human like races where finding there way into the room as well. These students seemed more excited about what they were doing and gathered around the table. Some of them looked at Bedwyr with wonder and excitement something that still unnerved the farmer/teacher. Wings, tails and horns were something that was just to be expected. For him there was still something off as he meet people and they didn’t have said appendages. For others the presences of them still just made people stair.
He smiled though at each as walked in and also extended a verbal welcome to them. Greetings were returned and so names were asked and given. Bedwyr took in their names and eventually the count of students matched the count he had been told to expect. His eyes looked over each of them as they walked in. Most of the class were youths, though there was one who while still a youth was a humand closer to adulthood who was standing awkwardly back from the others.
Bedwyr smiled at the class and said in his slightly accented way. “Welcome to class everyone. To make sure you are in the right class this is a beginning gardening class.”
“Umm” A squirrel Cadouri said raising her hand but not waiting to actually be called upon. “I am supposed to be in a farming class.”
Bedwyr looked at the student with a raised eyebrow but answered the question. “I believe the word is semantics.” He said with a smile, “This is a class to teach you how to take care of a plant and not kill it right away. If you use that knowledge to plant a field or make a garden is your choice.” He looked around at the other members of the class. The Fox Cadouri was still in the back though was looking at the squirrel Cadouri with amusement. The older human youth was still looking awkward in the back and the squirrel Cadouri was bouncing a raised hand trying to get his attention again.
“How about we start with introductions before we jump into questions and the lessons.” He said. “I am Bedwyr and you are.” He said and pointed to the Squrrel whose had had only come halfway down before shooting up again. “Serenity.” The squirrel said. Bedwyr recognized he word and though he recognized they what it meant but was surprised it was a name. He nodded though and said. “Nice to meet you Serenity.” He moved down the line, well as much as there was on. The older youth said his name was Deryck and the fox said her name was Ruby.
“Okay now Serenity you had a question.” Bedwyr said remembering the hand raised before he asked about names. Serenity appeared to have forgotten that she had a question and then remembered it and said. “Where are the fields?” Bedwyr smiled at the question and motioned to the pots and planters on the table.
“Unless you are working with someone one on one the best way to start learning about caring for plants is to start with a couple and work up to larger amounts plants at a time.” He waved to the dirt. “Okay who is ready to get dirty?” He said and there was general excitement. “Good. Understanding dirt is the first and important part about growing plants.”
He showed them different dirt types and explained to them about them. “Different plants grow in different places because they like soil there. Some soils are liked by a lot of types of plants even if they are from different parts of the world.” He indicated to the rick dark soil he had the most of. “Other plants need other needs and won’t do well in a rich soil. So it is important for you have an understanding of where your plant comes from and what type of soil it grows there. “A vegetable that grows in the mountains might only grown in the mountain valleys with different soil then rockier soil on the mountain itself.”
There was a series of confused looks, and a series of understanding looks. He paused to see if the confused people would ask questions. He pulled over some rocky soil and instructed the students to actually take turns and dig their hands into the soils so they could compare. He stepped back and walked over to the Fox Cadouri who was still standing at the back.
He spoke quietly and said. “Is there something I can help with.”
“Not unless you can get me out of this class.” The Fox said. Bedwyr blinked not sure if he should be offended.
“We can get you a different instructor if you like.” He said.
“Its not the teacher it’s the class.”
“You don’t want to garden.” Bedwyr realized it was stating the obvious, but he felt that Ruby saying the answer for her own ears was important.
“No” Ruby said.
“Then you don’t have to come.” Bedwyr said amused by the whole conversation.
“My parents said I had to learn some skills.” The Fox said.
“Well I can’t make you learn anything, but if you have to be here then I am more then happy to help make this more interesting. What type of plant would you like to grow.” Bedwyr asked.
Ruby had a surprised look on her face as he said that. “I hadn’t thought about it.” She frowned and then said. “I like roses.”
Bedwyr nodded his head. “Okay lets work on you growing a rose bush.” He looked at the dirt were the kids where still testing it. “You do have to do the growing. Today I don’t have any rose plants but if you participate I will get some.”
“Your just trying to humor me.” She said.
“Yes, if growing a rose bush will get you interested I we will do that.”
He left Rudy then and moved back to keep the other students moving quickly since some of them seem to taking a long turn. Afterwards the kids seemed understand what he meant by the soil types. “Everyone wants to just to planting the seeds or the plant but the first step is actually to prepare the soil.” He picked up soil that hadn’t been played with it came up with clumps. “The roots of a plant need room to grow. So you must prepare the soil by losing it up. I would like everyone to take a stick and draw a circle of how big of any area you would need to prepare for say a rose bush” He said pointing to the ground.
The class began to draw circles on the ground. Most were small, one went very big, but none were really the correct size. Ruby didn’t draw but she was watching. Bedwyr came in and explained about root growth and drew a circle larger then the others but not as large as the biggest circle. “Now this circle may differ depending on the type of rose. There are some that never really get wider then this.” He indicated with his hands. “So you don’t need to make it bigger then this. Other roses if left alone could get as wide as the table, but you don’t really need to dig a hole that big. Partly because a rose bush that wide would be un practical. But also because anything beyond this size will be strong enough to spread its roots.”
He stood up and indicated to the various pots and the dirt. “We are planning on starting seeds in pots that can be planted in the ground later.” He said and brought out the dirt. “Lets prepare the dirt for the soil. I have some seeds here ready to plant, but if you want some else specific then I can see about getting a seeds for it next time.”
The class came forward and began to work. Once everyone was done and Bedwyr seemed distracted he noticed Ruby grab a larger pot and began to fill with the soil and break it up. The Hyludin didn’t say anything and pretended not to notice as he continued to help his other students.