The creation of schoolyard gardens is a growing movement in the United States and around the world (Ballard, Tong, and Usher 1998; Pope 1998; Lewis 2004). It brings together all of the features of authentic hands-on science: Students can collect data on plant growth, observe the plant and animal interactions in the garden, and acquire a sense of nature and environmental issues. Here the author shares how easy it can be to start a schoolyard garden, using an in-class germination project as a starting point. With just a tiny plot of land, they created a mini-garden that infused third-grade students with a sense of pride and accomplishment. (Contains 1 figure.)