The new principal at my daughter’s school is putting together a committee of parents to work in the gardens there. There will also be a vegetable garden, and yes, it is going to be worked into curriculum. I am so freaking excited I don’t know where to begin. Except that I’m not in charge. That’s right, when the question was asked who wanted to head up the vegetable garden committee, for once I didn’t volunteer.
This is huge for me.
I love gardens. Digging a new hole is my favorite form of therapy. Teaching kids how to garden, so that they can learn how much better it is to eat fresh, healthy food, how easy it is for them to be able to do so? So part of my goal of overhauling our entire food system. I have a tendency to stand up and take charge when no one else does. But not this time. My main reason is really that my daughter moves up the upper elementary school after June and I feel this project needs a parent that’s more invested in the long term than myself. There are other reasons, like, a need to really focus more on my fledgling business and my own garden. There are other parents that have the same ideas I have, so it really was sort of easy to let go.
I’ve had a few people tell me how I should be in charge of this committee. I know, it seems like a good fit, but at the same time, it’s not. I’m happy to help out, but let someone else take charge. It might not seem like it, but I don’t always like being in charge. I might be good at it, I might do it quite a bit, but that doesn’t mean I like it. It’s far easier to say “Yes” to something and find a way to juggle it in than to say “No”, but man, saying “No” is really empowering.
How exciting! A veg garden at the school!
And you are a very smart woman to not head it up–good call!
Congrats on saying no. I love that feeling too.
If you haven't already, you should check out the garden at the middle school. It's impressive. I've also been impressed by how much it was worked into the overall 7th grade curriculum this fall. I think my girl was in the garden for English, science, math, French, and art.
The good thing about saying 'no' is that it gives someone else the chance to say 'yes'. It's so easy to just accept that 20% of the people do 80% of the work! Plus by you saying no to heading it up, it allows you some extra free time to come in as a consultant when needed 🙂 On another note, it's so exciting that there is a garden at the school!
Very exciting. And I know what you mean about saying “no”. I have a hard time with that, too, but on the few times that I have used it, it's felt right and good. There might even be another parent with a younger child who would love to run the committee for several years. As Tracy said, it's their chance to say “yes”.