HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

What can you do with a pair of orange handled scissors? Some things that come to mind may be related to clipping coupons, cutting a dangling thread off your cuff, or pruning your kitchen plant. Did you know that those scissors also symbolize hope in a community?

Fiskars, known in homes, schools, and institutions far and wide for their famous orange handled scissors, has announced their Project Green Thumb contest. Since 2003, they have been awarding groups. They want to recognize groups that create and maintain garden spaces that promote community involvement, and creativity. The grant allows the projects to sustain and grow.

Whenever I watch shows about city gardens, I realize how much that I take my yard for granted. I am always amazed about the yield that can be created from a postage stamp sized area, with concrete surrounding it. What is there secret, when I can’t seem to raise one single tomato plant? I don’t think county fair will see entries from me in the foreseeable future.

Heritage Garden in Atlanta, one of the grant recipients, is just that. It is a garden in an urban setting. The philosophy of the garden is twofold. Firstly, there are just not enough opportunities to see flowers bloom and greenery in the city. Also, observing the flowers and foliage, and smelling the herbs is good for the soul. Many artists and poets have been inspired by flora throughout the ages. It is the hope of the garden’s chief caretakers and the community alike that it will serve as inspiration to the youth of the area. Perhaps it will be a place to learn how to care for plants, and to enjoy them. Also, it has the potential to change lives and inspire.

Every time you get out those orange handled scissors to clip coupons, you can feel good that your purchase may have contributed to touching many lives.

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