Episode 2: Mulching, Mulching, Mulching

The sun was high in the sky and Maya and Mojo were flying over a barren area in the school garden. The ground beneath was dry, hard and cracked.

"Mojo," said Maya, flying just above the ground, "this is not soil, this is concrete with ambitions. How will anything ever grow here?"

"That's going to be difficult," Mojo replied, landing on a crumbly clump of earth. "There's no life here - no microorganisms, no moisture, not even a solitary earthworm. This ground is as empty as my calendar in the off-season."

Maya nodded. "You know, healthy soil is like a living ecosystem. There are trillions of microorganisms working together to make it fertile. But without protection, it dies."

Observe and Understand

The children came, armed with shovels and notes on stone paper. "Today we're going to learn how to make the soil alive again," the teacher explained. "But first we have to observe it."

The children examined the earth. Some felt it with their hands, others looked to see where it was dry or softer. "It's really hard here," one boy remarked. "And there are no roots or animals."

"That's because the soil is unprotected," the teacher explained. "The sun dries it out and the wind blows away the best parts. We need a layer of mulch to protect it."

What is mulching?

"Mulching is like a blanket for the soil," Maya whispered. "It protects from the sun, holds in moisture, and helps soil life return."

“So a natural air conditioning system?” asked Mojo with his wings raised. “That sounds almost too simple.”

The teacher showed the children how to collect mulching materials such as leaves, straw and small branches. "The mulch not only protects the soil," she said, "but over time it also turns into humus, which makes the soil fertile."

“And then the earthworms come back. My best friends,” said Mojo. “They eat the mulch and then shit humus. Black gold, so to speak.”

The work begins

The children got started. They carefully loosened the top layer of soil with shovels to make room for air and water. They then spread the collected material evenly over the area.

"Maya, look at this!" Mojo exclaimed. "They're actually managing to give this soil a second chance."

"Of course," Maya replied. "With mulch, the soil retains moisture, becomes softer, and the microorganisms return. That's real regeneration."

The first results

At the end of the day, the area was covered with a thick layer of mulch. The children were proud of their work. "Now the soil can recover," said the teacher. "In a few weeks it will be full of life again."

Maya landed on a piece of straw and hummed contentedly. "Mojo, the ground already feels better. It's as if it's breathing a sigh of relief."

"I have to admit," grumbled Mojo, "that was impressive. Maybe soon there will be enough life here again that I almost feel like I'm in a real garden."

The two bees flew into the dusk, ready for the next chapter in the school garden – and for the next step in revitalizing nature.