Originally Posted by Hera

After double checking, and triple checking the time on her watch, Seren then let the door to the greenhouse close and she turned her attention to the students. "Good morning everyone! I hope you've all come prepared, because we have a busy lesson ahead of us." Busy was probably an understatement. "We have a lot of work to do and a lot to learn, so brace yourselves," she warned with a small mischievous smile.

"Now many of you will recognise these puffapods we planted last year... well now it's time to harvest this seasons seeds!" And yes this was a VERY exciting task, especially if you liked getting a little messy. She looked down briefly at the rows of puffapods in front of them, large ostrich egg sized pods sat upright, attached to low stems. They varied in colour, ranging from light pinks to bright reds, some containing pink seeds, others orange or purple.

With a swish of her wand, the blackboard that was over to the side rolled into position. It's old wheels squeaking in the process.
"Note down the following instructions as I walk you through your first task for today."

After pausing briefly, waiting for the students to pull out their notebooks, Seren then stepped up to one of the puffapods. Time for a demonstration.
"So first of all, if you look under your work space you will find all the necessary equipment you will need. These include a scalpel, latex gloves... you won't need your dragon hide ones until the next activity... and then you have a bag for the seeds you harvest." She held up her small calico bag as an example.

After pulling on her latex gloves, she then gestured to the puffapod in front of her. "Puffapod seeds... or beans as they are sometimes known, develop and grow within these sizable membranes we call pods. They are very tough and very firm, but as the seeds within them ripen, the membrane becomes softer and easier to pierce." Taking up her scalpel she conducted the first step, making an incision down the side. "The membrane won't harm you. It is not poisonous, if anything it would probably do your skin some good. But I'm guessing not many of you like sticking your hand into a lump of what is essentially plant placenta." Mmm delightful thought. "It is very slimy, and is very much like jelly... but you probably shouldn't eat it, you'll get a stomach ache."

Sticking her hand into the incision, she took hold of one of the ripened seeds and pulled it out, wiping off the excess jelly with her fingers.
"And there you have it... a puffapod seed... or bean... whichever you want to call it."

"It's a messy task, which is why you have aprons and gloves, but you should all manage it."

"Good luck, and .... go!" Of course, it wasn't a race or anything.