Tanya Lunn Duggan, RECE
Historically when there was a call upon the world to take action by planting ‘victory gardens’ during the war. Those gardens supported feeding families and communities. With an undefined timeline of when we would come back together again, we extended a similar invitation to the families of our child care centre and it was heartwarming to see so many contributions to our ‘victory garden.’ This garden nourished our longing for what was familiar and connected us with the people and places we were missing.
The additions to the garden supported the spirits of the children who were enrolled in the Emergency Child Care. As the children of our ‘health care champions’ arrived, they would wonder if fairies had visited. The uniqueness of our victory garden brought purpose, hope and most of all, joy. Transformations of spaces are typically orchestrated through Educators collaboration. In this case, families strengthened and grew our connections by coming together, bringing their passions and their personal stories, and adding to this beautiful display of collaboration at our home away from home. We have seen the efforts of others, and have had the chance for meaningful encounters at respectful distances. Everyone involved has offered something: artwork, plants from a garden, life to a simple space, respect to nature, reminders of past experiences and dreams of what will be.
This documentation would never have been made possible without families sharing photos and stories from working in the garden over the past month. Together we’re better. We want to thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to support this invitation and Compass Early Learning and Care.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” (A. Hepburn)