I have a memorial idea, but would love your input! (a little long and wordy... sorry!)

lrichmond86 · August 2012

So I've been thinking a lot lately about how I would like to do more in remembrance of baby Gary. I've also been very preoccupied with the upcoming school year as I'm back in the classroom in less than two weeks (agh!) I teach in a school district where the kids are either very wealthy or very poor... there doesn't seem to be much middle ground. I'm constantly worried about my needy kids, wondering if they have dinner and breakfast or any meals at all on the weekend. Last year almost a third of my class was on free lunch, which tells me that it's a good possibility that they didn't. Also, after our loss I found out that there were several other teachers in the district who had lost children/babies/pregnancies and last year there was a family who lost an older child to cancer. Then this brain child popped into my head this morning! Ok... Here it is...

I would like to start a memorial garden at the school. We have a great space for it on the side of the field, and frankly I'm surprised that no one tried to plant there before. I would invite all parents/educators in the district who have lost children/babies/pregnancies to come to the dedication and design a mosaic stepping stone for their child to create a path through the center of the garden. It would end up being a vegetable garden and the veggies would end up going to families in the school who are in need of supplemental food. Also, I would ask for volunteers to help maintain the garden (maybe a family signs up for one night a month) and I would tend it on days when there was no volunteer. Additionally, I would ask each teacher (16 in our school) to help each child in their class start one plant from seed, a different type of plant per class, so that ultimately we would have about 20 of each plant. They could start them in the classroom, then transplant them to the garden when they were ready. It would fit right into our life science study and give the kids hands-on experience with plant growth.

Soooo.... The garden is four-fold, really. Our babies would be remembered, needy families would have fresh produce, it would give families a chance to work on a project together, and it would teach the kids science! Obviously I would need to get a lot of volunteers and fundraising to make this work. Honestly, I'm a little hesitant to bring it up to my principal because I'm so in love with this idea that I'm afraid it won't be nearly as good in reality as it is in my head.

What do you ladies think?

a&aw12707 · August 2012

This is an amazing idea! I understand being nervous about presenting it to your principal, but you should for sure!! Theres no down side!

lrichmond86 · August 2012

I'm worried the union won't let me or that there will be some red tape regarding liability for volunteers after school hours. Maybe if I get the union rep on my side first that would help...

lmielocl1 · August 2012

I think it is a wonderful idea. I hope that the union will not be a road block to making it happen! I too wish I lived closer so I could help! You are a wonderful person for thinking of such an idea to help so many in so many ways!!

Williamandshawnna · August 2012

Amazing idea! I hope all goes well. I have worked on community gardens in the past and it could get costly. Check around with local yard care companies and see if anyone would sponsor the garden, donating the soil, helping to put up a small fence etc. Good Luck.

~Shawnna

Mrs Nice · August 2012

This is an amazing idea! I hope you can get the support needed. Good luck!

MrsRichMT · August 2012

This is such an amazing idea. Hoping it all works out for you!!

jbranden12 · August 2012

This is a wonderful idea! I am so in favor of children learning about where produce comes from and exploring healthy foods, and it sounds like a great way for the people in your community to honor their children. The only part you may want to think on is the logistics of getting the produce to needy families. How would the families be chosen, etc. before you present it to your principal. Good luck!

lrichmond86 · August 2012

jbranden12:
The only part you may want to think on is the logistics of getting the produce to needy families. How would the families be chosen, etc. before you present it to your principal. Good luck!

Because there isn't a way to choose families objectively, it would just have to be on the honor system. I always say, it's never the child's fault when their parents make poor life choices, and even if a family who isn't truly in need of supplemental food ends up with it, in my mind there's nothing bad that can come from any child having fresh produce on the table. I think it would just have to be open to all families and hope that families who can afford their own food would opt out.