VISTA, Calif. -- Marine volunteers from the 1st Marine Division's Truck Company teamed up with special-needs students from Grapevine Elementary School to turn a back yard into an ongoing class project.The first- through fourth-graders helped the Marines where they could, shoveling dirt and planting vegetables in the class's new garden April 25.The idea for a garden sprouted from a lesson on how things grow, said Laurie Walsh, who teaches the class. But to promote understanding, she moved the class outside."They really need to see it, feel it and do it," Walsh said.Land for the garden was provided by Carol Claypool, who lives just up the street from the school and whose grandson Harley, 8, is a student in the class."Laurie's just really creative with some of the things she does with the kids," said Claypool, who is considered the class's grandma."Miss Laurie," as the students call her, then turned to the Marines, i.e. her husband, 1st Lt. Sean Walsh, for the muscle to plow through the work. Walsh, the company's executive officer, then branched out seeking volunteers."It's good for the kids to see the Marines in a different way," said Laurie, who has received many questions from students about the military in light of recent events.Ranging from artichokes to zucchini, the students and Marines spread seeds across several small, circular gardens. The design is intended to give students, especially those in wheelchairs, better access.Walsh plans to bring the students to the garden once a week. The Marines also hope to return to volunteer more time for the kids, especially to build a path through the yard for wheelchair access. The students one day hope to reap the fruits and vegetables of their labor to give back to the Marines. Yet, for many of the Marines, the harvest is already over."I know why I'm out here - just seeing the expression on their faces," said Staff Sgt. David Gonzales, platoon sergeant of 1st Platoon.