Friday, April 22, 2016

Earth Week at the Garden

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values. 
http://www.earthday.org
On Wednesday, I helped out with a field trip at The Secret Garden Project when a group of 5th graders came to celebrate Earth Week.
We taught them about composting and had them dig under leaves for the compost rich soil for planting.  They then turned a sandy patch, raked in the nutrient rich soil and planted some night-blooming jasmine.  After all the garden work, I normally read them a book about leaving a zero footprint, but since they were older school children, I had one of the students read the book aloud to her classmates.
A recent addition to the garden is the Wall of Kindness.
Any sort of item can be left at the giving tree for anyone in the community to take.  I'm always looking for ways to pass along some of the things we no longer use, so look forward to leaving them here in the hopes that someone will take what they need.
The garden has really grown and is green and lush now.
But our temps have reached the low 90s this past week and it is only going to get hotter from here on out which means the garden will be slowing down over the next month.
When that happens, the murals will still provide some color to the garden.
As will our crochet covered trees.

We can begin by doing small things at the local level, like planting community gardens or looking out for our neighbors.  That is how change takes place in living systems, not from above but from within, from many local actions occurring simultaneously.
(Grace Lee Boggs)

Happy Friday!

20 comments:

Linda said...

What a lovely, inspiring place you've all created there, Tammy. :) Glad you've found such meaning in it.
Enjoy a wonderful weekend,
Linda

a writing place said...

You do such lovely things!

Mmmmm, how do you manage, during the heat of summer there? A European blogging friend, could not stay, when the summer heat came. And she loves steamy places.

Ahhh, perhaps that's it. She loves hot places with humidity. But your heat there, is dry heat. Yes, perhaps that is it.

Happy Pink Full Moon,
Tessa

Unknown said...

Tammy thanks for your efforts with the Secret Garden. What you folks do way over there effects our world over here too. Beautiful photos. and the graffiti is so colorful. I found some afghans I crocheted yeas ago and going to trim them and use for my tree bombing. Had to put that on hold as I am making the usual afghan for our graduating high school senior this year. Always do one for them to take to their dorm.
Happy Earth Day.

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

You have made a pretty spot and you must be proud!

Teresa Kasner said...

I am so proud of your work in the garden. You are planting seeds of a green future in those children's minds.. a very good and awesome job you are doing! I like the wall of sharing.. I have so many things that I need to donate. We're at the beach now and the sun is shining and we have adventures in order for the day! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Mereknits said...

You have done amazing work in the garden and with the children. I applaud you Tammy for volunteering your time and energy.
Hugs,
Meredith

Gracie Saylor said...

Reading an article today, I was discouraged to note that it set the USA as number 1 in producing consumer waste even with our conservation efforts, but that depressing statistic energizes me to step up my own recycling efforts and better steward the abundant resources around me.... and determine to use even less non recyclable products!

While I did not take part in a community Earth Day event, I did plant and water some more flowers today...two plants were Geraniums I had wintered over inside; and this week our household agreed to the county's effort to reduce mosquito larvae naturally on our back pond. Little steps that I hope will be a positive difference in the world around me.

Thank you, Tammy, for making a positive difference in the world around you.

Happy@Home said...

How wonderful it is to see how you are addressing Earth Day in your corner of the world, Tammy.
The Wall of Kindness really warmed my heart. What a lovely idea!

Createology said...

The Secret Garden is looking very beautiful. Today for us is Earth Day and we have had glorious pouring rain and some hail. Mother Earth is very happy today. Blessings to all who care for Mother Earth.

Dagmar said...

Such a wonderful post Tammy, thoughtfulness and kindness is so important in this age we live in.
Xo
Dagmar

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Tammy,

Love the 'Wall of Kindness' You do great things with all you do.
We really do need to do our part in looking after the planet.
Happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Blondie's Journal said...

I so enjoy reading about the Secret Garden, and your involvement in it is so heartwarming---it makes me understand the person you must be beyond the Tammy I know through blogging.

The Wall of Kindness is just so wonderful. You are involved in a good amount of admirable causes but I know you give from your heart, that makes it an extreme pleasure!

Sending a big hug,

Jane

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

It's wonderful what you are doing there, Tammy. The wall of kindness is a great idea. Hopefully it will be used quite often.

Quinn said...

Your ideas for the Garden just continue to grow and improve and thrive! I am in awe :)
I hope you and yours have a lovely weekend, Tammy :)

Tanya said...

You guys might have built the happiest place on earth - plants, children, that incredible Wall of Kindness (what a fabulous idea!). What started out as such a small little garden has truly blossomed into something very special! Happy belated Earth Day, my friend!

Carola Bartz said...

I love what you did for Earth Week and Earth Day (which actually should be every day). The Wall of Kindness is lovely - what a very good idea. I like this kind of giving tree. And you even have some yarn bombing!! Wonderful!

Beverly said...

Such good life lessons you are teaching the kids through the Secret Garden. We all could use a reminder of just how precious our earth is. My favorite part was the Wall of Kindness.

Amy at love made my home said...

A wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day! xx

Kit said...

Your wall of kindness is wonderful! What a great idea! I love how you spread cheer and love where you go. :) Kit

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,
Just came back to the previous post and this is such a worth while project.
No doubt you will leave a mark on those young people's hearts and that's indeed what it is all about.
Grass root level is always the very best!
Probably forgot to congratulate you on Jingle's 12th. She is happy for having such a caring human parent and like ours, they are with us till the end; we take full responsibility and not like others, dump them in the street or worse.
Sad facts.
Hope the kitty found some loving place to live on.
Just like to tell you that I did persevere and yesterday I managed almost all of my scanning. Today I did nothing as we went out for a delicious dinner together and we went to Church before that. Tomorrow I will scan the remnants that are left and I feel so joyful for having tackled this. Yay, it makes me feel happy, very happy.
Sending you hugs,
Mariette

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