The children of Manning Early Childhood Center (MECC) are about to witness something extraordinary in their school’s garden: the planting of a tree that has traveled beyond the moon. Marie Land, a passionate volunteer who runs the garden program at MECC, is spearheading the effort to plant a sweet gum seedling known as a “Moon Tree,” one of only 50 awarded to institutions across the United States through NASA’s Artemis program.
Land first learned about the opportunity in August 2023 and immediately knew it would be a perfect fit for MECC. After 244 days of applications, NASA notified the school that they had been selected to receive one of the seedlings, a tree whose seeds traveled over 43,000 miles beyond the moon aboard the Artemis I mission.
Land credits the hard work of her granddaughter, Bitsy Land, and MECC Principal Rosa Stokes for helping secure the seedling. “The process was more rigorous than the BAR exam,” Bitsy joked, adding that it required everything from a Tree Care Plan to a detailed Education Impact Statement. But the team’s efforts paid off. “It’s amazing to think that our students will care for a tree that’s been to space. It’s such a powerful way to show them that the sky isn’t the limit,” Land said.
During a recent interview in the garden, Land was surrounded by students eagerly working on their latest gardening project. “We’ve worked hard to make this garden a place of learning, not just about plants, but about science, nature, and now even space,” she said while overseeing students planting carrot seeds.
Land has fostered a love of gardening and science in her students, teaching them that there’s more to gardening than just planting seeds. “Gardening isn’t just about growing food. It’s about science, problem-solving, and learning to work together,” she told the group of students.
One of high school students who volunteer in the garden, Isaiah Williams, shared his excitement about the Moon Tree project, saying, “I think they were trying to figure out if you can travel a seed around the moon from space and see if you can plant it and if it can still work.” The students have already learned about the Artemis mission through school announcements and have started incorporating space-related science into their gardening activities. In fact, the older students are even planning to build a model rocket to demonstrate to the younger ones.
“We want the kids to feel like they’re part of something bigger — something that connects them to space and the future of exploration,” Land explained. As the students handled the young sweet gum seedling, she shared its remarkable journey: “This isn’t just any tree. It’s a symbol of possibility, of dreaming big.”
Land is no stranger to big projects in the garden. Over the years, she has cultivated everything from kale and spinach to sweet potatoes and gourds, all while teaching the students about nutrition and the importance of eating fresh foods. “We’ve gotten them to eat kale. They love kale,” she said proudly. “If they pick it, they love it. And of course, if you got ranch dressing, it makes it even better.”
The Moon Tree ceremony is scheduled for the fall, and Land is already planning a celebration for the entire school. “We’ve got a lot planned for the Moon Tree. We’re going to have moon pies, the music teacher is doing a song about the moon, and the art classes are painting slats for the fence,” Land said. “NASA’s very strict about where you plant the tree, how you plant the tree, and how you protect the tree, so we’re following all their guidelines.”
As she wrapped up her lesson with the children, Land reflected on the impact the garden has had over the years. “This garden is a community effort,” she said. “It’s amazing to see what we’ve built together, and now, with the Moon Tree, it feels like we’re growing something that connects us to the future.”
For the students of MECC, that future now includes a tree that’s been to space and a whole new world of possibilities.
