Welcome to the Beautiful GIFT website - a program to encourage intergenerational gardening, writing and photography. Read on to find out how you can be part of the program and be included in our sharing of gardening stories and possible inclusion in the publication of the first edition of the Beautiful GIFT book.
A young person partners with a person from an older generation and together they plant a garden. Not all young people have parents or grandparents who garden. Conversely, not all adults have young people to help them with their gardens. Schools, 4-H clubs, Scouts, and other organizations can help encourage kids to participate. Civic, service and retirement clubs, nursing homes, Big Brother and Big Sister organizations can help with pairing adults to work with kids. Interested adults would just need a spot with enough soil, sunshine and accessible water. Participation is not limited to children and older people. Any person who likes to garden is invited to participate.
Some people may have difficulty connecting with someone from another generation, perhaps due to a recent relocation, because distance or garden proximity makes it difficult, or due to a recent illness or recent loss, they perfer to garden in solitude. Planting a healing garden can help individuals regain their footing and their outlook on life, even if they need a season of gardening alone. They may still enjoy journaling about their gardening experiences and then later sharing how it helped enrich their lives or helped them heal.
Bonds will be formed and memories made that will last a lifetieme. Funding will be raised from the book sales for research for Alzheimer's and autism, afflictions of our elderly and our young. Modeling environmental stewardship through the vehicle of a garden will have a snowball effect that will carry into future generations. If you are interested in participating, contact Information@beautifulGIFT.org or snail mail: Beautiful GIFT, P.O. Box 2375, East Peoria, Illinois 61611-0375.
