Fertile minds
Despite heavy foot traffic all year, the trees of Harvard Yard are leafy and shady and the lawn below green and inviting. Though many people take in the scene without a second thought, a group of 10 students from Norfolk County Agricultural High School wanted to learn about the work behind it. So they listened intently despite Wednesday’s heat as Paul Smith of Harvard’s Landscape Services talked about organic techniques implemented in recent years that are not only more environmentally sustainable but also ensure a healthier Yard. Smith showed students how Harvard landscapers brew organic “tea” — a mix of compost and other ingredients — in a large water drum near Phillips Brooks House, and talked about soil compaction and root growth and soil microbes. When spread on the Yard’s grassy lawns, the tea promotes a healthier microbial community in the soil. The students were part of a four-week program — a partnership...