By Jeannie Pederson

Remember the marigold project in 2021? During the difficult years of isolation, smiles and collaboration helped fill us with hope. Yellow blooming marigolds could be found in nearly every corner of the county. If you’ve seen a photo of people in front of a beautiful field of sunflowers, you know how they can lift one’s spirit.

This year, as a tribute and in memory of Margaret Pederson and Sue Anderson who were true champions of the Magical Marigold movement, we’re spreading sunflower seeds. The flower comes in a wide range of varieties but always seem to make us smile. The flower itself is a symbol of PEACE. It is a protector of the environment because they sustain pollinators, birds and wildlife. It has the ability to remove toxins (even radioactive elements) from the soil. Its oils can be used in biofuels and they are easy to grow. It can be grown in almost any sunny patch of soil and is a great compliment to marigolds or other flower garden varieties. Who doesn’t like a sunflower?

Let’s see what KINDNESS we can grow this summer!

The BeKind members will be distributing seed packets to the elementary school children in the county because children, especially, get excited about sunflowers. This is planned for Earth Day which is April 22, the same week as Arbor Day (April 25) when many people plant their trees. We hope parents, grandparents, and neighbors will also join in the excitement of raising our Kindness to the sun!