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The Seedling BLOG

Peace Gardens

  • Posted by Victoria Hackett
  • Categories The Seedling BLOG
  • Date November 20, 2015
  • Comments 6 comments

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.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world and I am free. 
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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.
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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

author avatar
Victoria Hackett
ABOUT VICTORIA: My mission is for every child in every school to have access to an Outdoor Classroom. Therefore, I inspire educators to teach outdoors and lead an on-line virtual community of Natural Teachers all over the world to create their own Outdoor Classroom story.

Previous post

Miniature Gardens: An Indoor Gardening Option
November 20, 2015

Next post

Program Spotlight: Shamrock Gardens
December 2, 2015

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    6 Comments

  1. Shelley Grove
    March 15, 2016
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    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…

    • Victoria Hackett
      March 15, 2016
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      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.

  2. Jan
    November 24, 2015
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    Do you think you could weave more peace ingredients into the holiday season? Are there any trees that could be symbolic of peace?

    • Victoria Hackett
      November 24, 2015
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      Coming right up! 🙂 To start….there is the Peace Lily that is beautiful!

  3. Carol Landry
    November 20, 2015
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    What a simple way to help children engage with the world. Peace is at the core of what we teach in Early Childhood programs.

    • Victoria Hackett
      November 20, 2015
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      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!

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