One day, when Rollo was between five and six years old, he went out to prove himself in the garden. In a corner of the family plot, where his father had given him a little square area to dig, Rollo planted corn.He watched the soil for two days -- two! -- and the corn would not grow! What was the matter? Why, he would plant it again -- and this time with beans!Gardening is only the beginning of Rollo's long list of tasks -- some greatly pleasurable, some less so. With the companionship and guiding hand of the gentle handyman, Jonas, Rollo undertakes the gathering of wood chips, the piling of firewood, and the sorting of nails -- and none of the tasks seem quite so simple as he expected!