gardening college essay

Home — Application Essay — Liberal Arts Schools — Gardening’s Silent Night: A Sojourn Amongst Flowers

Gardening's Silent Night: A Sojourn Amongst Flowers

• University: Reed College

About this sample

Words: 472 |

Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 472 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read

I had never before seen a sleeping bee. Yet there it was, nestled among lavender petals in the gardening scene. I could see the yellow pollen dusting the bee’s delicate wings. As I looked around, I could see other life in the garden settling down as well. The constant humming of bugs and rustling of the wind had faded just as the sky had turned into a dusky mix of blue, purple, and pink. The breeze is slowing down, I thought as it grazed my cheek.

Say no to plagiarism.

Get a tailor-made essay on

'Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned'?

The flowers were slowly nodding along with the gentle wind. The faint smell of summer hung in the gardening air, coating everything with a sweet contentment. A tired sort of hopefulness had settled into my bones. I was 12 years old; on the edge of childhood, just beginning to venture into maturity. I didn’t feel quite like a person, more like a possibility.

My father had planted a garden, although I use the word garden loosely. The garden had started as dirt, riddled with rusty nails and old bottle caps. It felt like a malignant presence in our backyard. My father decided to change this. One day he let some seeds go free and we soon had our own field of wild flowers. They grew with an uncontained chaos, eventually overtaking our backyard.

Mexican sunflowers grow six feet high, with petals the color of the burning desert sun. They were forever hungry for the sky. On balmy afternoons I would position myself underneath the flowers, looking up and yearning to be as tall as they were.

Cosmos flowers grew in wild, violent tangles. The buds were ugly brown lumps on spindly stalks. Despite this, the flowers would bloom in the loveliest shades of lilac and pink. It was here where many of the bees would make their beds for the night.

The small, cheerful poppies were my favorite. The fresh flowers were an orange so deep and bright that it remained burned into your eyes long after you had closed them. But what drew me to the poppies were the petals. The soft silk of a poppy conveys a gentle innocence that only nature could create. These flowers had sprung forth from an unforgiving ground. Taking root amongst old pennies and broken glass, they had forged themselves into a forest where the flowers had thrived.

Keep in mind: This is only a sample.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

The other night I walked past my neighbors garden. A few poppies had begun to bloom. I sat down besides them, and felt the sleek petals.The colors in the sky had faded to an inky blue. A few stars were blinking in and out of existence. The air seemed at rest. The flowers had closed their petals for the night. They look so simple, I thought, resting on the sidewalk. I looked up at the flowers swaying, and I thought about possibilities.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Liberal Arts Schools

+ 129 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 653 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Are you interested in getting a customized paper?

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Liberal Arts Schools

I still remember it like it was yesterday. After seven days of grueling labor pushing my body to its limits, I was proudly walking - no, strutting. As my clean and pressed uniform held my new ribbons for the world to see, I [...]

I had a dream last night that my most revered mentors came together to weave their unique threads into the fabric that ultimately became my Common Application essay. Kurt Vonnegut, my favorite novelist, was in charge of the [...]

“God is too big to fit in one religion.” It it is a beautiful paradox of how much hate and love can come from having a faith; it can cause war but also save lives. Religion is a vehicle for so many causes; it is not something to [...]

Journalism is a field that is crucial to the functioning of society, as it serves as a watchdog, holding those in power accountable and informing the public about important issues. As such, the role of the journalist is one of [...]

I lean my head against the cold glass window and watch the world fly by at 70 mph, as the soothing tones of stringed instruments and a dancing guitar line melt into Emm Gryner’s voice singing "Stereochrome." I was 6 years old, [...]

Chabela sits across from me with a nearly finished cigarette pursed between her wrinkled lips. As she watches me, I pour myself a cup of coffee and butter the one slice of white sandwich bread I’m allowed to consume each [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Essay on Importance of Gardening

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Gardening in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Gardening

Introduction.

Gardening is a fun and rewarding activity. It not only beautifies our surroundings but also offers numerous benefits.

Health Benefits

Gardening is a form of exercise that improves physical health. It also reduces stress, enhancing mental wellbeing.

Environmental Impact

Gardens absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, helping to combat climate change. They also provide habitats for wildlife.

Learning and Creativity

Gardening teaches patience and responsibility. It also fosters creativity, as we design and care for our garden.

Gardening is important for our health, the environment, and our personal development. Let’s start gardening today!

250 Words Essay on Importance of Gardening

The therapeutic value of gardening.

Gardening, often perceived as a mundane activity, is in fact a multifaceted discipline that offers a plethora of benefits. It serves as a therapeutic outlet, fostering a connection with nature that is vital in our increasingly urbanized world.

Physical Health and Gardening

Gardening is a form of exercise that promotes physical health. The activity of digging, planting, and watering involves considerable physical effort, contributing to cardiovascular health. Moreover, exposure to sunlight during gardening provides a natural source of vitamin D, essential for bone health and immune function.

Mental Health Benefits

Gardening also offers significant mental health benefits. The nurturing of plants can be a meditative practice that helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The sense of accomplishment derived from watching a plant grow and thrive can boost self-esteem and promote a positive outlook.

Ecological Impact

The ecological impact of gardening is another crucial aspect. It encourages biodiversity, providing habitats for various insects and birds. Additionally, gardening promotes environmental awareness and responsibility, as it necessitates an understanding of the natural cycles and the delicate balance of ecosystems.

Community Building

Finally, gardening can foster community spirit. Community gardens are spaces where individuals can work together, share knowledge, and build relationships. They serve as a platform for social interaction and community development.

In conclusion, gardening is a valuable practice that promotes physical and mental health, ecological balance, and community cohesion. As we navigate through the complexities of the 21st century, the importance of gardening is more relevant than ever.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Gardening

Gardening, often perceived as a hobby or pastime, holds a profound significance that extends beyond the realm of simple recreation. It is a multifaceted activity that intertwines human life with nature, contributing to both physical and mental health, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.

The Physical and Mental Health Benefits

Gardening is a form of moderate-intensity exercise that can help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and other health-related issues. It involves a variety of physical activities such as digging, planting, weeding, and watering, which can improve strength, flexibility, and motor skills.

Beyond the physical benefits, gardening also has substantial mental health benefits. It can serve as a form of mindfulness meditation, providing a respite from our fast-paced, technology-driven lives. The act of nurturing plants, observing their growth, and feeling the soil can be therapeutic, helping to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the accomplishment derived from cultivating and maintaining a garden can boost self-esteem and promote a sense of purpose.

Gardening, particularly when it involves the cultivation of native plants and organic practices, can have a significant positive impact on the environment. Gardens act as mini ecosystems, providing habitat for local wildlife, including insects, birds, and small mammals. They can also improve air and soil quality, as plants absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants, while enriching the soil with organic matter.

Moreover, vegetable and fruit gardens contribute to food sustainability, reducing dependence on commercial agriculture, which often involves harmful pesticides and fertilizers. This not only benefits the environment but also ensures healthier and more nutritious food for the gardener.

Community Engagement and Education

Community gardens can serve as a social hub, fostering a sense of community and promoting social interaction. They can provide a platform for knowledge sharing, where experienced gardeners can guide novices, leading to skill development and lifelong learning.

Furthermore, gardening can be an effective educational tool, especially for students studying biology, ecology, and environmental science. It offers a hands-on understanding of plant life cycles, photosynthesis, pollination, and other key concepts, making learning more engaging and applicable.

In conclusion, gardening is much more than a leisure activity. It is a conduit for physical and mental well-being, environmental preservation, and community building. By embracing gardening, we not only enhance our personal lives but also contribute to a more sustainable and interconnected world. The importance of gardening, therefore, cannot be overstated, as it is an activity that nurtures not just plants, but people and the planet as well.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Affordable and Clean Energy
• Essay on Renewable Energy
• Essay on What Is Your Dream

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

Want free help with your college essay?

UPchieve connects you with knowledgeable and friendly college advisors—online, 24/7, and completely free. Get 1:1 help brainstorming topics, outlining your essay, revising a draft, or editing grammar.

Writing a strong college admissions essay

Learn about the elements of a solid admissions essay.

Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes

Learn some of the most common mistakes made on college essays

Brainstorming tips for your college essay

Stuck on what to write your college essay about? Here are some exercises to help you get started.

How formal should the tone of your college essay be?

Learn how formal your college essay should be and get tips on how to bring out your natural voice.

Taking your college essay to the next level

Hear an admissions expert discuss the appropriate level of depth necessary in your college essay.

Student Stories

Student Story: Admissions essay about a formative experience

Get the perspective of a current college student on how he approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about personal identity

Get the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about community impact

Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org.

How to Write Your College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Getting ready to start your college essay? Your essay is very important to your application — especially if you’re applying to selective colleges.

Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peers’ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.

We have regular livestreams during which we walk you through how to write your college essay and review essays live.

College Essay Basics

Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.

• Why do essays matter in the college application process?
• What is a college application theme and how do you come up with one?
• How to format and structure your college essay

Before you move to the next section, make sure you understand:

How a college essay fits into your application

What a strong essay does for your chances

How to create an application theme

Learn the Types of College Essays

Next, let’s make sure you understand the different types of college essays. You’ll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.

• How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges
• Personal Statement Essay Examples
• How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity Essay
• Extracurricular Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay
• Diversity Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay
• How to Write the “Why This Major” Essay
• How to Write a “Why This Major” Essay if You’re Undecided
• How to write the “Why This College” Essay
• How to Research a College to Write the “Why This College” Essay
• Why This College Essay Examples
• How to Write The Overcoming Challenges Essay
• Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type

What each type of essay is really asking of you

How to write each essay effectively

The Common App essay

Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why it’s important you get this right.

• How to Write the Common App Essay
• Successful Common App Essay Examples
• 5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays
• 11 Cliché College Essay Topics + How to Fix Them

How to choose which Common App prompts to answer

How to write a successful Common App essay

What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers

Supplemental Essay Guides

Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.

These essays are extremely important in standing out. We’ve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last year’s essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. We’ll update these in August when schools release their prompts.

See last year’s supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.

Essay brainstorming and composition

Now that you’re starting to write your essay, let’s dive into the writing process. Below you’ll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.

• Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises
• Creating the First Draft of Your College Application Essay
• How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
• What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?
• 8 Do’s and Don’t for Crafting Your College Essay
• Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Understand how to write a great hook for your essay

Complete the first drafts of your essay

Editing and polishing your essay

Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.

• 11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay
• Getting Help with Your College Essay
• 5 DIY Tips for Editing Your College Essay
• How Long Should Your College Essay Be?
• Essential Grammar Rules for Your College Apps
• College Essay Checklist: Are You Ready to Submit?

Proofread and edited your essay.

Had someone else look through your essay — we recommend submitting it for a peer review.

Make sure your essay meets all requirements — consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when you’re really ready to submit.

Advanced College Essay Techniques

Let’s take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.

• 10 Guidelines for Highly Readable College Essays
• How to Use Literary Devices to Enhance Your Essay
• How to Develop a Personalized Metaphor for Your College Applications

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, need help with finding outstanding topics for college essays.

I'm struggling to come up with unique and outstanding topics for my college essays. Any suggestions on how to brainstorm ideas that'll help me stand out? Would love to hear about some of the topics you guys have used and how well they were received!

Brainstorming unique and outstanding college essay topics can be challenging, but it's essential to find something that makes you stand out from other applicants. Here are a few tips on brainstorming and some ideas to get you started:

1. Reflect on your personal experiences: Think about significant moments in your life that shaped your personality, values, or perspective. These could be obstacles you've overcome, a turning point in your life, or memorable experiences that led to personal growth.

2. Embrace your quirks and passions: Colleges appreciate authenticity and individuality. Write about a unique interest or hobby you have, and how it has influenced your life or allowed you to develop your passion further.

3. Analyze your personal qualities: Consider your strengths, character traits, and values. You can build an essay around a specific quality and demonstrate how it has played a significant role in your life.

4. Address the prompt creatively: Most prompts will ask you to address a certain question or theme, but you can take an unconventional approach, as long as you stay on topic. For example, if the prompt is about expressing your intellectual curiosity, you can write about a time when you pursued knowledge in a creative or unusual way.

5. Focus on the details: A good essay doesn't have to be about an extraordinary experience or accomplishment. Sometimes, writing about a small, mundane, or even embarrassing moment can be incredibly powerful if you can convey its significance and the lessons you've learned.

Remember to avoid cliché topics, such as sports victories/injuries, moving schools, or learning a new language. Here are a few unique essay topic ideas to consider:

- An essay about a family food tradition and how it connects you to your heritage, while exploring the rich history and culture behind it.

- An essay about a time when you challenged yourself to learn a new skill outside of your comfort zone, like teaching yourself a musical instrument or coding a mobile app.

- A story about volunteering at a local community center, and how this experience allowed you to form meaningful relationships with community members and understand different perspectives.

- An essay about how growing plants in your backyard or creating a garden in your neighborhood park has helped you better appreciate nature and fostered a sense of environmental responsibility.

Remember, a successful college essay is authentic, personal, and engaging. Be honest with your experiences and write in your unique voice to make the most significant impact on the admissions readers. Good luck!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Essay on Garden for Students and Children

500+ words essay on garden.

Essay on Garden- For me, the garden is an important part of the house. From an early age, I have an interest in gardening. Garden is a place that gives relaxation to the mind and soul. Besides, gardening can be an interesting and productive hobby. Also, it teaches a person the value of patience, hard work, and love and affection. Because gardening takes a lot of effort in growing and maintaining. It also gives peace to the person who takes care of it.

Benefits of Garden

The garden is the only place in the house which calm senses and give a pleasing feeling to the mind and body. Also, you can install a gazebo in the garden and enjoy your garden’s beauty while sitting on it.

Besides, another benefit of the garden is that you can grow organic vegetables and fruits at home. The quantity of this product is large so you can share it with your neighbors.

Also, the homegrown fruits and vegetables are more delicious and taste better than the fruits and vegetables that we buy from the market.

Moreover, my garden has many flowering plants that give a pleasuring fragrance that makes the environment light and aromatic. The flowering plants that I have in my garden include roses, sunflowers, dahlia, jasmine, marigold, common, night-blooming jasmine, tuberose flower, hibiscus and many more. But, my all-time favorite is night-blooming jasmine whose pleasing smell spread at night and make the whole house aromatic.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Maintenance of a Garden

Everyone thinks that planting trees and plants is an easy task and anyone with a trowel, lopper, and weeder can easily do it. But, only gardeners and the people who do gardening knows the effort and energy that gardening needs. Besides, only water is not enough for plants they also need manure. Also, they need daily care in order to keep them healthy and fresh .

Moreover, most of the plants are green which means they need proper sunlight . Many people hire professional gardeners for taking care of their garden but doing it on our own is more pleasurable. Also, it helps us to connect with the garden.

Growing the Garden

Most of the plants and trees that are in my garden are either planted by me or my family members. We go to the nursery to buy seasonal plants every season and most of the flowering plants are replaced every season as they die due to climate change. After buying them we plant these saplings or plants in a strategical order. So, that garden looks more colorful.

To conclude, we can say that gardening is a very good and productive habit. Also, it helps a person to establish a connection with the greenery and love towards nature.

Besides, for most of the people, the best memories of childhood are attached to the garden. Garden is the place where families share their evening tea and discussion that keep their bond stronger. Above all, a garden is the most amazing place of the house no matter what the season is.

FAQs about Essay on Garden

Q.1 What is the purpose of a garden? A.1 Most people love the plants and trees that’s why they have a garden in their homes. Besides, this they provide a relaxing and calm surrounding with fresh air. And it decorates a side our house and gives a pleasing smell that makes the whole house aromatic.

Q.2 Why green plants grow better outside than inside? A.2 Green plants grow better outside because in comparison to indoor plants outdoor plants need sunlight to grow. This sunlight helps them to make their food by the process called photosynthesis which they consume.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essays Samples >
• Essay Types >
• College Essay Example

Garden College Essays Samples For Students

171 samples of this type

Regardless of how high you rate your writing skills, it's always an appropriate idea to check out a competently written College Essay example, especially when you're dealing with a sophisticated Garden topic. This is exactly the case when WowEssays.com directory of sample College Essays on Garden will prove handy. Whether you need to think up an original and meaningful Garden College Essay topic or survey the paper's structure or formatting peculiarities, our samples will provide you with the necessary material.

Another activity area of our write my paper agency is providing practical writing support to students working on Garden College Essays. Research help, editing, proofreading, formatting, plagiarism check, or even crafting completely unique model Garden papers upon your request – we can do that all! Place an order and buy a research paper now.

Humanics Action Day Essay

Good painting of a secret garden essay example, history of the cummer museum of art and gardens essay.

Don't waste your time searching for a sample.

Get your essay done by professional writers!

Just from $10/page

Garden Ecosystem And Its Importance Essays Example

Sample essay on i stand here ironing and the garden party.

[Client’s Name] [Client’s Professor] [Client’s Subject] [Date Passed]

Free Essay About Analyzing And Understanding Characters And Their Background

Question 2., sustainable native plant species garden project essays example, list of 10 native species indigenous to california that can be used in reclaiming abandoned lots.

1. Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) 2. California Flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum) 3. Silver bush Lupine (Lupinus albifrons) 4. California Wild lilac (Ceanothus spp) 5.Island bush poppy (Dendromecon harfordii) 6. California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) 7. Manzanitas of California (Arctostaphylos species) 8. White sage (Salvia apiana) 9. Island black Sage (Salvia brandegei) 10. Golden currant (Ribes aureum gracillimum) (Akaka, et al., 2013).

SERVICE PLANNING TABLE

Good essay about cautionary tales or life lessons.

Fairy tales are stories that characteristically feature folkloric fantasy characters like dwarves, ogres, and witches among others to communicate a story. They are employ use of fear and violence to illuminate disparities of differences in the society. Studies from educators and sociologist are shown supportive evidence that the fear and violence in folk tales contribute to a better educated and safer society, therefore, supporting the point that fairy tales serve to or give a life lesson.

The happy prince

Text in conversation essay samples, imagination, good the fisherman and his wife essay example, sample essay on organic community vegetable garden, this essay has been written by name of student of class of student of name of college, good essay on gibbs model of reflective practice, service learning narrative essay, service learning narrative essay, superb essay about art & architecture, exhibit advertisement, example of essay on stourhead the storyteller, essay on create your own utopia/a perfect world, george washington statue in boston essay examples, swinburnes idea of time, mortality, and nature essay examples, operations management for garden gallery essay examples, operations management for garden gallery, example of garden cities essay, introduction, the garden of love outline essay sample.

I. INTRODUCTION:

Thesis: Although the theme is untraditional for Romantic Poetry, the devices that Blake uses are in line with the style.

II. BODY PARAGRAPH 1:

Opening Sentence: It is generally well-known that Blake had a complex and problematic relationship with the Church of England.

Detail 1: this is at the heart of poem Detail 2: garden has changed as it now has a chapel in it III. BODY PARAGRAPH II: Transition/Opening Sentence: Within this poem, there is an obvious feeling of both passing experience and that over a long period of time.

Free “He Looked Goodbye At The Garden, And Raged That He Had To Leave It – Leave It And Peter”(Pearce) Essay Sample

Free essay on writer chose.

Bilal Haq, a scientist from the National Science Foundation Arlingtion, Virginia encountered foraminifera on his trip to Qingdao in China. Foraminifera are small creatures that grow shells on their bodies. Their shells are varied and very diverse, as if they are created by visionary artists. Haq thought the foraminifera would make beautiful pieces of art and should be put on display. Haq’s fellow colleague from China, Zheng, agreed and put things into action by involving local craft workers. It resulted in a park for foraminifera since the end of 2009 and already a million people have visited (Larkins, 2012).

Example Of Modern Aesthetics: Before Sunset Essay

Essay on “the garden of earthly delights” – center panel, good example of cathedral of saint john and the devine and palace museum summer palace essay, rose and laura essay, compare and contrast laura and rose, the two main characters in ‘the garden party’ and ‘half a grapefruit.’.

Despite their differences, Laura and Rose have a lot in common. In both stories they are young girls who are faced with the reality of death at an early age. The way Mansfield and Munro write the stories is also similar: first person narrative is not used, but each story is clearly told from the central character’s point of view: in ‘The Garden Party’ we see everything through Laura’s eyes; in ‘Half a Grapefruit’ Rose’s consciousness filters what we hear and see as readers.

Example Of Dream Window: Reflections On The Japanese Garden Essay

Female as a product of spatial limits essay sample, example of essay on the garden-party, organization culture model summary essay examples.

Organizational Culture is an important aspect of human resource as it helps define the direction that an organization purposes to adopt in realizing its goals and objectives and thereby being viable in business. There exist a number of models that try to assess or evaluate an organization’s culture. The Denison model is one such model. This survey used this model in evaluating the organization culture of Hilton Garden Inn, a three star hotel located in Terre Heute, USA. This paper summarizes the major aspects of organizational culture of this organization.

Involvement

Nature in pope's " on "man" and wordsworth's "the daffodils" essay sample, forest pathway: essay.

The forest pathways are a means of transitioning from a forest and park environment to a built environment. Connecting the two environments operationalizes the main concept, which is to bring life and nature into the built environment and thereby fostering an interaction within a historical building. The forest pathways, as conceptualized inside the building, will be drawn as curved lines that guide the pedestrian through a succession of spaces that create the impression of houses built along a forest path. The pathway will move around columns as a pedestrian moves around trees in a forest.

Water Fire:

Free online discussion essay example, example of essay on forensic health/nursing, instituition, example of digital and direct marketing essay, good essay on war and militarization, free essay about gardening as a hobby, english composition i: evaluation essay, example of what is the relationship between reality and fiction essay, the poetic principle and short stories essay sample, alice's search for identity essay sample, example of essay on should there be boys' books and girls' books, free essay about the trade and economic system of the trobriand islanders, sample essay on reading response, yeager by tom wolfe, biblical literature essays examples, le corbusier essay sample, example of suburban space in australia essay, ‘instructor’s name’, essay on manhattan grand army plaza, what makes grand army plaza (manhattan-ny) a successful garden (or not successful), good essay on hanging gardens of babylon, good metaphor essay example, reading summary and response essays example, good example of richard marx – hazard lyrics essay, "my mother came to hazard when i was just seven, essay on creation, history of the forbidden city essay, good example of time traveling, art historian book chaptersname essay, chapter one: islamic literature in the middle ages, example of essay on perfect gardens inc, chapter one, essay on complementarity.

<Name> <Professor> <Subject> Analyzing Two Poems: Money Won’t Change It (But Time Will Take You On) and A Small Moment by Cornelius Eady

Essay On Centrality And Significance Of Travel In Literature.

Introduction., example of essay on images of god in genesis outline, images of god in genesis, essay on images of god in genesis.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Essay on Gardening

Gardening Essay

Gardening is indeed a favourite pastime for us. With our busy and concrete lifestyle, gardening is the only way that keeps us connected to mother nature. Gardening gives us immense joy, as we can see the shrubs and the flowers growing right from their tender stage till it completely shoots and lush into their green life. This literally gives us a sense of mortality which the living creatures have on this planet.

Gardening keeps our daily life fresh, watering the plants, nurturing them, cleaning them all gives us a sense of freshness and calmness in our mind.

Essay on Gardening for Students

In this essay on gardening, the gardening paragraph has been described in detail. A garden can be defined as a piece of property that is structured near or around our house. Different kinds of trees, beautiful flowers, fruits, vegetables, and so on are cultivated. 

People are fond of grooming many types of gardens. A flower garden which consists of varieties of beautifully scented flowers, a fruit garden that holds nutritious fruits, a vegetable garden is very much loved by the households as they bear healthy vegetables which are then cooked and included in their meal are the best examples. Apart from these, botanical gardens and medicinal herb gardens that cure diseases are also included in the hobby.

We love to grow fruit or vegetable gardens near our homes, as this gives us the opportunity to savour the fruit of our hard work in real. These kinds of gardens are known as gardens of the kitchen. Colleges have their own gardens in order to work as a learning lad for the students. Gardening gives us an insight into some of the best practices of the same.

Gardening as a Hobby Essay

Gardens are a good and enjoyable pastime. Enjoying in the fenced lap of nature is something which would seem artificial to the common people but quite peaceful to the city people as they are busy in the other parts of their life, hustling to get something, but gardening helps them to re-start fresh their mornings or evenings. The garden is surrounded by a fence to protect them from stray animals like dogs, cats, or cows. Usually, these fences are made of wood or bamboo.

The garden is designed into splits, the splits are the various parts. All the sections split into flower beds. While every bed is surrounded by an earthen uplift. For these flower crops, fruit trees, vegetables, and medicinal herbs, some parts are intended to be cared for.

In different seasons, people also plant seasonal vegetables. Pumpkin, gourd, lettuce, bitter gourd, garlic, tomato, potato, brinjal, bean, pea, cabbage, turnip, cauliflower, radish, carrots, chilies, and other vegetables. While, among fruit trees apples, chikoos, oranges, plums, etc. In addition to this people also grows climbers and creepers to decorate their garden. Among these includes a money plant, various shrubs. All of these come under the kingdom of plants.

How to Take Care of Plants Essay

People root the grasses, prepare the beds, sow the seeds, plant the trees, and water the crops on a routine basis. People work in their gardens both during the morning and evening, they keep their garden neat and tidy.

We must love and nurture the gardens as well. We must keep in mind to take care of the insect crops in the garden. For these crops, insects can be dangerous. On the crops, flowers, and fruit crops, insects lay eggs, thus we need to sprinkle insecticides that can destroy these eggs. In the soil as well, lime should be occasionally blended to kill the germs and the bacteria that breed in it. This helps the soil’s fertility to improve.

If we attempt to write any 5 Simple Sentences about Garden it can be as follows:

Gardening refines the mood and calms the life of the individual practising it.

In the gardens, we grow various flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

We tender and care for the life of these beautiful crops, thus we grow them with utmost love and care.

These plants in our garden purify the air around us, thus making the air healthy which we breathe.

Also, watching greenery is good for our eyesight. Gardening gives us the scope for the same.

Short Essay on Pleasure of Gardening

Gardening gives us pleasure as we watch the plants grow. With our care, love, and nurture we see the plants growing and flowers blooming, this is a sight to cherish, thus we say gardening gives us a sense of pleasure and enjoyment. From our garden we can get fruits, vegetables and flowers, by this we can enjoy our own hard work. We can get healthy fruits, vegetables, and flowers to decorate. Thus, in this manner too, gardening helps us.

If you will take the time to stop and enjoy gardening, you will realize that it can offer you many pleasures. Finding the perfect plant for your garden can even make you feel an essence of accomplishment. If you’ve got enough space in your garden, you can plan a small pond or a recreation spot into your garden, creating a haven for yourself to simply relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. 

If there are certain flowers you like, you can incorporate them into particular places in your garden. Each time you step out you will see those flowers blooming giving you a true feeling of well-being.

Short essay on Gardening in 100 Words

Gardening is a really good practical activity. You can grow your own vegetables and fruits and thereby you can ensure that you have healthy organic food on the table. When you cook vegetables from your garden, you do so knowing that you’re getting the freshest meal. Gardening necessitates learning about different plants that thrive in various conditions and planning the layout of the garden. Achieving all these gives obvious mental happiness and it opens up our mood.

Gardens can provide a healthier diet, a healthier lifestyle, and also financial relief. Gardening is also a great life lesson that is passed on through generations. it is a great learning experience, no matter the age.

Benefits of Gardening

Health Benefits: Regular gardening activities can be really health-promoting. Gardening can help you encourage mindfulness, lower the stress level and improve the quality of life.  

Environment Benefits:   We all know that human activities have had a serious impact on the environment. Plants and trees generate fresher and cleaner air by releasing oxygen after absorbing carbon dioxide, thereby reducing pollutants in the atmosphere. Plants also prevent erosion because roots hold soil in place.

Vegetable Growth:   Vegetable gardening provides us with various benefits. Growing your own vegetables enables you to know what you have used to help the vegetables grow, and not worry about pesticides and other chemical residues that may have been spread around on the vegetables . 

Importance of Garden in Our Life

Gardening may seem like a hobby, while in reality gardening is actually useful and thus essential to us.

Gardening includes physical activity, like - weeding, plant watering, mulching, trellising, and harvesting–all of these involve the gardener’s physical labour input. Therefore, gardening becomes a great booster to our workout routine as well.

Gardening is indeed a very practical activity. We can develop our own vegetables and fruits, which will allow us to have good food on the table.

Aesthetic gardening brings a sense of pleasure to human beings. Ornamental gardening is a real beauty. Furthermore, these flowers that we grow serve as decorative items for most occasions like births, anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, and funerals.

Characteristics of botanic gardens

The following is a list of criteria that may be met in part or whole by any institution that is considered to be a botanic garden:

Open to the public

A fundamental scientific basis for the collections

Adequate documentation of the collections, including the wild origin

Observations of the plants in the collections

Appropriate labelling of the plants

A source of information to other gardens, institutions, and the public

Exchange of seed or other materials with other botanic gardens, arboreta, or research institutions

The undertaking of technical or scientific research on plants in the collections.

Maintenance of research programs in plant taxonomy in associated herbaria.

Tips for writing an essay on gardening

Identify the requirements

Follow the traditional structure of an essay

Start writing early 

Stick to your topic

Use relevant sources 

Don’t forget to pay attention to the conclusion 

Proofread your essay

Gardening is one way to express our love, care, and nurture. Gardening is quite similar to watching and growing an infant. While gardening one can imagine the life cycle of the plant starting from the embryo till the plant shoots up to bear fruits. Gardening gives us immense pleasure and soothes our minds.

FAQs on Essay on Gardening

1. Define a Botanical Garden?

Botanical Garden is a garden which is dedicated to collection, cultivation and they are displayed in a wide range of plants which are labelled with their botanical names.

A botanical garden is also known as the botanic garden, this is a collection of living plants that are designed chiefly to illustrate the relationships which exist among the plant groups. The botanical garden is a type of display garden that concentrates on woody plants like shrubs and trees. Botanical Garden acts as a germplasm collection and helps the development of new hybrids.

2.What Type of Plants is Best for the Garden?

Different types of vegetables which we like to eat are the best plants to grow in the garden. Plant head lettuce, a lettuce cutting mix, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots are a good start to this. Most of the plants need space and if you don't let them have their own little piece of territory, there may be hell to pay. You should be realistic with your garden plant ideas by starting simply with a piece of paper, a tape measure, and a ruler to measure up the size of your plot.

3.How can I Design my Garden?

We can give a shape to our garden lawn, we can plan our planting, the paving can be done beautifully in order of distinct levels. Gardening is not very tough, but also not too easy. It needs a perfect combination of hard work and knowledge. The hard work is that you need to do, no one can help you with that. Knowledge is something that can be gained by reading books, blogs, and watching videos. You can start by learning the sunlight and wind exposure of your place, as well as your soil structure and health. You need to decide how you want to use the space within the limits discovered above, and be sure to do some reading on the different flower bed styles and about how you can design them.

Any readers for Common App essay about vegetable gardening?

<p>I figure it would be a unique thing to type from a teenager. It’s the first draft, but don’t have mercy. Thank You!</p>

<p>I’d love to read it!</p>

<p>I appreciate the enthusiasm but I’d prefer that someone more experienced read it, like a teacher, parent, college student, etc. Thanks though!</p>

<p>bump (10 char)</p>

<p>I’ll read it for you!</p>

<p>I will read it. Please indicate the prompt.</p>

<p>I can read it. PM me.</p>

POPULAR STATES

Search sat scores, search act scores, search gpa’s, subscribe to our newsletter.

Stay informed with the latest from the CC community, delivered to you, for free.

CONNECT WITH US

© 2023 College Confidential, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

Composting and Climate Change

A bowl of organic scraps ready to be composted. Photo: C. Carignan, UME

Composting is probably seen by most people as good for gardens and the environment. After all, compost helps make our soils and plants healthier and keeps green waste from our yards and kitchens out of landfills.

But is composting good in the context of our climate crisis? Doesn’t the composting process generate lots of carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal greenhouse gas (GHG) that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere? Can composting also mitigate climate change and make our yards and landscapes more climate-resilient? The answer to both questions is YES. This article will show that composting, at the home, community, and municipal/commercial level, is an important global warming mitigation and adaptation tool. As we’ll see, the ways that humans manage this natural process and use the compost can affect the climate benefits.

Composting basics

We don’t make compost! Huge populations of microorganisms do most of the work and we humans manage the process for our benefit. It’s nature’s way of recycling anything that lives and dies, like plants, animals, and microbes.

The decomposition process produces lots of carbon dioxide (CO2), part of the world’s carbon cycling system shown in this graphic:

This CO2 release is considered biogenic (happens through natural biological systems), not anthropogenic (people-made), and is not included in the calculations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that drive global warming and climate change.

The three primary GHGs are:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)  — 300-1,000 year atmospheric lifetime; 86% of total GHG emissions
• Methane (CH4)  — 84X the global warming potential of CO2; 12 year atmospheric lifetime; 7% of total GHG emissions
• Nitrous oxide (NO2)  — 265X the global warming potential of CO2; 100 year atmospheric lifetime; 6% of total GHG emissions

There are many factors that determine the potential for composting to generate methane and nitrous oxide, like the mix of materials being composted, temperature, moisture, pile size and configuration, and aeration. Compost piles and windrows that are waterlogged and low in oxygen (anaerobic) are more likely to generate these GHGs. Composting is “climate-friendly” when it’s done in the presence of air (aerobic). Home and community composters turn piles by hand to keep them aerated and large-scale composting facilities use mechanical turners and force air into windrows with blowers. Well-managed composting at any scale releases very little methane or nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. 

Direct climate benefits of composting

• Dumping food wastes and grass clippings in landfills generates large amounts of methane because the decomposition process is anaerobic. Landfills release about 17% of total U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions and  food waste makes up 24% of landfill space . Burning organic wastes releases GHGs and toxins. Composting these organic wastes using best practices greatly reduces emissions.
• Carbon sequestration: Compost continues to degrade after soil incorporation. Some of the carbon cycles through soil microorganisms and some is held tightly to clay particles, protected against decomposition, and becomes part of the long-term reserve of stored carbon.

Indirect climate benefits of composting

The mid-Atlantic climate is becoming wetter and warmer overall, punctuated by localized extreme weather events, like record-breaking rainfall and extreme drought and heat. Intense storms can cause soils and nutrients to wash away and warmer temperatures cause more rapid organic matter decomposition and turnover, especially if soils are tilled and uncovered.

Adding compost to soils makes them more resilient by:

• Holding more water in the soil during periods of drought and extreme heat
• Reducing erosion (washing away of soil during extreme rainfall) and nutrient run-off) due to improved soil structure (larger, more stable aggregates or crumbs)
• Improving plant growth, by slow release of plant-available nutrients
• Reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers which require natural gas for their production
• Reducing the need for potassium and phosphorous fertilizers (derived from mined mineral deposits that are dwindling worldwide)
• Binding and degrading toxic metals and pollutants
• Substituting compost for peat products can help reduce the release of CO2 from commercial peat extraction from wetlands 

Home composting

Managing and recycling as much yard waste as possible on-site is often the most climate-friendly approach because it reduces GHG emissions from transporting and processing or landfilling organic waste. You can do this by recycling grass clipping (“mow ‘em high and let ‘em lie”), mulch-mowing tree leaves and leaving them in place, or using them as mulch, composting yard and garden waste, and burying kitchen scraps. These practices help to recycle nutrients on-site and increase soil organic matter. Selecting or building a non-plastic composter can also help reduce GHG emissions.

Municipal/commercial composting

This is the next best option for organic wastes that cannot be managed on-site. Commercial and municipal composting operations do create GHG emissions from the trucks and equipment, powered by fossil fuels, that are used to collect, transport, and process organic waste and compost. The closer the source of organic waste to the facility the lower the emissions and the greater the benefits. On balance, composting on a large scale can also help mitigate climate change.

To summarize: aerobic composting reduces GHG emissions compared to the landfilling and incineration of organic wastes. The resulting compost sequesters carbon when mixed into soils and improves soil health and resiliency. Composting at home and in your community is the most climate-friendly approach but commercial and municipal composting is another important tool that helps mitigate climate change.

• Silver, W. L., Vergara, S. E., & Mayer, A. (2018). Carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation potential of composting and soil amendments on California’s rangelands .  California Natural Resources Agency ,  62 .
• Linzner, R., & Mostbauer, P. (2005, October). Composting and its impact on climate change with regard to process engineering and compost application-a case study in Vienna . In  Proceedings of Sardinia Tenth International landfill Symposium, Cagliari, CISA publisher .
• Institute for Local Self-Reliance- Community Composting
• U.S. Composting Council- Greenhouse Gases and the Role of Composting: A Primer for Compost Producers (includes some research studies on GHG emissions and composting facilities)
• Maryland Department of the Environment- Organics Diversion and Composting
• U.S. EPA- Overview of Greenhouse Gases

Author: Jon Traunfeld, Extension Specialist, University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center

Related information

Sustainable Gardening: Solutions to Climate Change

How to Make Compost at Home

Still have a question? Contact us at  Ask Extension .

• South Carolina Honors College
• Location Location
• Contact Contact
• Colleges and Schools
• About the Honors College
• South Carolina Writing Contest

Writing South Carolina Volume 11

The Honors College is proud to showcase selections from the 11th annual South Carolina High School Writing Contest. Featuring submissions from high school juniors and seniors from across the state, the works are edited by Honors students from our SCHC 384 course.

Bright and strong, the tall goldenrod is South Carolina’s state wildflower. We think Solidago altissima also represents our state’s best young writers. Here are 18 of them, each of whom composed an original response to our annual question, “How can we make South Carolina better?” Read on and take heart. These writers are bright and strong indeed.

First Place – My Name, My Roots, My Home by Dayanara Reyes

Second Place – I Promise, You're Not Forgotten by Zayd Kidwai

Third Place – "Hands Up!" by Brookelynn Little

Honorable Mention – A Queer Child's Lullaby by Lily Heiner

Argumentative Essays

Savoring Heritage, Saving Health by Kensley Green

Education and the Role It Plays in the Development of Democracy by Brantley Metcalf

Navigating Towards Equity: We Need to Inspire Change by Raghav Pallapothu

The Red Flood of Ignorance by Davies Roberts

Education Inequality: The Need for Reform by Justin Schlag

Dollars for Scholars by Sophia Strobel

Thirty-One Seconds by Shaina Dashiell

Tangled Love by Catherine Milburn

The Dealer's Daughter by Kendall Pifer

Personal Essays

State-Owned by Abigail Bailey

Chronology of My Neighborhood by Avelyn Bailey

Roadkills by Kimora Brown

The State of My Identity by Eunwoo Choi

Subarus, Trucks, Giraffes, and Unity by Kristin Rotchford

Acknowledgements

The annual South Carolina High School Writing Contest wouldn’t be possible without other individuals and organizations. We thank South Carolina Honors College alumnus  Thad Westbrook , the  Pat Conroy Literary Center  (Jonathan Haupt, executive director); the  South Carolina State Library  (Leesa Aiken, director);  South Carolina Academy of Authors (Wilmot Irvin, chair); and the  South Carolina Writers Association  (Ash Smith, president). We also thank Felicia Mitchell , grand judge for this year’s contest, and the many high school guidance counselors and teachers who encouraged students to submit. The students in the fall 2023 semester of SCHC 384, Finding Your Voice: Writing and Editing for Life, were the first editors of volume 11. They are Alex Alleyne, Allison DeHart, Catherine DeMino, Lauren Douglas, Abigail Elliott, Seth Gould, Isabel Jordan, Hannah Augsbach Lamma, Sanskruti Patel, Paul Ward Pratz, Ronnie Rahenkamp, Rylyn Reynolds, Alexis Simpson, Caroline Smith and Kennedy Westendorff. 

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Student Opinion

Should Schools Serve Healthier Meals if It Changes Students’ Favorite Foods?

New federal rules will require school cafeterias to reduce the amount of salt and sugar in the foods they serve. Do you think students will embrace the changes?

By Shannon Doyne

Do you eat breakfast, lunch or snacks from your school’s cafeteria? If so, what do you eat? What are your favorite foods? How nutritious do you think your choices are?

New federal regulations on salt (or sodium) and sugar are coming to school cafeterias. Do you think they will change your favorite foods? Will they affect what and how much students eat at school?

In “ With New Salt and Sugar Limits, School Cafeterias Are ‘Cringing ,’” Julie Creswell writes about a debate over the new rules:

Around 11:40 on a cool spring day in early April, students began to stream into the lunchroom at Haleyville High School in Alabama. Cheerleaders, soccer and baseball players, and other members of the student body filed through the lunch line and sat at their tables. They chatted and laughed about upcoming games (go, Roaring Lions!) and prom as they dug into plates of chicken Alfredo, green beans and salad. Emma Anne Hallman, standing in a corner, watched the teenagers carefully. As the child nutrition director for the Haleyville City School District, she has the job of feeding 1,600 students, in prekindergarten through 12th grade. For months, Ms. Hallman and other heads of school lunch programs have worried about new federal regulations that would reduce allowable sodium levels and introduce new sugar restrictions for foods served in school cafeterias. A debate has raged, with many parents and nutritionists applauding efforts to make lunches more nutritious while some school lunch administrators fretted that the results will be less tasty to students, reducing consumption and increasing waste. “We are cringing, as it could result in changes across our menus,” Ms. Hallman said. “We would have to look at the sodium amounts in the recipes of some of our students’ favorite foods, like chicken wings, hot wings or even some of the Asian foods.”

The article continues:

While far from perfect (cafeterias serve plenty of processed foods), school lunches are arguably much healthier than they were a few years ago, thanks to a signature program geared toward combating childhood obesity and championed by Michelle Obama when she was first lady. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, passed in 2010, required schools to reduce the calories, fat and sodium in foods served in cafeterias and to increase offerings of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and nonfat milk. The new regulations drew sharp criticism, however, and the Trump administration rolled back some of them, such as a prohibition on 1 percent chocolate milk. But last year, the Biden administration proposed updates that would gradually limit salt and sugar in school lunch foods in an attempt to meet federal dietary standards . On Wednesday, the Agriculture Department made the new rules final after scaling back several provisions in the earlier proposal and shifting the start dates. Instead of gradually cutting sodium in lunch foods by a third from current levels by the fall of 2029, school cafeterias will have to cut sodium levels 15 percent by the 2027-28 academic year. And for the first time, schools will need to limit the amount of added sugars in cereals and yogurts, starting in the 2025-26 academic year. Standing in a Haleyville School District pantry a few weeks ago, Ms. Hallman nodded to boxes containing cups of Cocoa Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. They contain less sugar than the cereals that are bought from grocery stores and poured into bowls at home. Still, she said many of these foods would most likely be affected by the new rules and have to be reworked by the manufacturer. The label of a Cocoa Puffs cereal bar, for instance, showed it had eight grams of added sugar, while a frosted strawberry Pop-Tart had 14 grams. “Breakfast, particularly grab-and-go options, is going to be tricky,” Ms. Hallman said. “The changes could affect how many times a week we can offer certain items with sugar to the students.” Many nutritionists and health-policy watchdog groups say the new rules on sodium and sugar are important, with so many children struggling to have or make nutritious choices outside school.

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

Before reading the article, were you aware that public schools must meet nutritional standards set by the federal government? Do you think these rules are reflected in what meals get served, how often certain items appear on the menu, or what foods can be served together at your school?

What, if anything, surprised you about the challenges schools face when it comes to serving food? Does it make you see school lunch differently?

Do you think the people who prepare school meals are right to fear that the new rules will require them to change or discontinue some of the students’ favorite items? Or will students embrace healthier meals at school?

What do you notice about the foods served at your school? Do students tend to eat healthy most days? Are the most popular items high in sugar or sodium?

Now think about what gets thrown out in cafeteria trash cans. Is food waste a serious issue at your school? If so, what can be done to help?

If students are less likely to eat foods that are low in salt and sugar — and perhaps less tasty — is it still worth it to make school lunches healthier? Why or why not?

Do students at your school have a say in what the cafeteria serves? If menus were created by students, what do you think would change and why?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

The College Fix

• Abortion/Pro-life
• Anti-Semitism
• Climate Change
• Common Core
• Free Speech
• Higher Ed Bubble
• Higher Education
• K-12 Education
• Political Correctness
• Racial issues
• Second Amendment
• Sexual Assault
• White Privilege
• Student Reporters
• Merchandise
• About The Fix
• Write For Us

Opponents say discipline is ‘Orwellian,’ ‘re-education’

New York University students who were arrested at a recent anti-Israel encampment must write “reflection” essays as part of their discipline, according to the campus Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine.

The university’s Office of Student Conduct issued the punishments last week for students who were arrested April 22 in connection with a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus, according to a news release .

The pro-Palestinian group referred to the disciplinary measures as “Orwellian” in the release.

One punishment, a five to six page “reflection paper,” must include “a clear, well-developed response that demonstrates that you have thought about all aspects of the issue/decision/behavior that resulted in your involvement with the Office of Student Conduct,” according to a university instructions sheet .

The instructions sheet states the paper “cannot serve to justify your actions, evaluate the actions of others, or challenge a conduct regulation.”

In the essay, students also must describe their personal values and consider how their actions affected other people, including the university and “society as a whole.” Additionally, the instructions tell students to consider what they need to do to “make things right.”

NYU is requiring other student protesters to write “dozens of writing assignments” through its Ethos Integrity Series Modules , according to the news release. The series is supposed to help students develop “moral reasoning” and “ethical decision-making skills.”

In addition to writing essays, some students were banned from campus and university activities, according to the group.

Middle Eastern studies Professor Sara Pursley, a member of the pro-Palestinian group, criticized the disciplinary measures in the news release.

“Since they can’t write anything justifying their action, students seem to be banned from writing about personal values that might be relevant here, such as a belief in freedom of expression, the responsibility to oppose genocide, or the duty of nonviolent civil disobedience under certain circumstances,” Pursley said. “This seems rather ironic in an essay on integrity.”

On X, conservative Princeton University law Professor Robert George said while he believes students should be disciplined for unlawful activities, NYU’s specific essay requirements are concerning.

“Students who engage in disruption, harassment, or other unlawful activities – no matter the cause they are seeking to advance – should be subject to disciplinary proceedings and appropriate sanctions, but they should not be subjected to thought reform or re-education,” George wrote .

Police in riot gear arrest dozens of NYU students and faculty who refused to leave a makeshift anti-Israel encampment in late April, The Fix reported .

Police said the protesters were arrested for “disorderly conduct” and unlawfully blocking traffic, according to the Washington Square News , NYU’s student newspaper.

MORE: Jewish NYU student kicked out of campus leadership post for opposing Hamas terrorism reinstated

IMAGE: Freedom News TV/YouTube

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter

Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , Reddit , MeWe , Rumble , Gab , Minds and Gettr .

More Articles from The College Fix

Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook , Twitter , Reddit , MeWe , Rumble , Parler , Gab , and Telegram .

Don’t Miss A Thing

Most popular from the college fix, something we should know.

No thanks, I’m not interested!