Peace Gardens
Peace Gardens
What If?…Every teacher, parent and child in every school community created an Outdoor Peace Garden? I was inspired by this idea when my collegue, in the midst of the recent Paris terrorist attacks, texted me, “Peace Gardens.” There was no note, suggestion or anything….simply “Peace Gardens.”
Today when I looked up at my vision board I saw the poem, “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry.
The Peace of Wild Things
By Wendell Berry
When despair in the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with the light.
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with the light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world and I am free.
It was time to do something with the Peace Gardens idea. Before I knew it I was out in my garden digging out the rocks that I had harvested a couple of weeks ago. I thought to myself, “I will create a simple Peace sign with my rocks.” As I placed each rock, I thought about the ripple affect of love, laughter and simple acts of kindness. My little Peace Garden, in a matter of seconds, became a reminder that we can plant, grow and harvest love and signs of peace.
Do you have a favorite Peace Poem? Make your own Peace Garden today and tell us about it. Write a comment and tell us your story.
PEACE
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6 Comments
We have a Peace Pole at our school. Every October, we have a re dedication ceremony and gather around with songs and chants. Every Spring, we have a “Peace Picnic” with the whole school and sing songs as well as share “friendship” trail mix. I am inspired to make a peace garden of some kind around the Peace Pole. Stay tuned…
I love this! Is it painted? How is it decorated? I may have to add one to my Outdoor Learning Lab! I love the “friendship” trail mix.
Do you think you could weave more peace ingredients into the holiday season? Are there any trees that could be symbolic of peace?
Coming right up! 🙂 To start….there is the Peace Lily that is beautiful!
What a simple way to help children engage with the world. Peace is at the core of what we teach in Early Childhood programs.
I love my litle Peace Garden. I agree, a truly simple way to engage children with the world. The not so simple part is creating a garden practice that nurtures love, laughter and gratitude that cultivate signs of peace. Happy Thanksgiving Carol!