C4C:Kaleidoscope

Peace Garden stems from a gardening concept created by the founder of C4C in September, 2005.  Brenya has developed a sustainable gardening design philosophy that models peace, and can be replicated worldwide.  The produce from the peace garden can not only feed the family, produce can also be sold in market.  As C4C staff travels globally, it is more and more apparent the need to implement the Peace Garden model in villages and regions worldwide.

The Peace Garden concept has been in development over the course of a few decades, starting with gardening methods taught to Brenya, and her brother Arnoldus, by their Dutch mother.  Their mother  schooled the two as teenagers to raise a variety of fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in harsh climatic conditions.  Additional education and training in Brenya’s teenage years added knowledge of soil and bed selection, fertilization, pest control, complementary plantings, etc.

The garden is sustainable with little to no care.  The health of the garden is reflected by welcome visitors such as deer, rabbits, opossum, hummingbirds, lizards, toads, and such.  

The photos below were taken in August, 2011 and show the garden as it survives the drought, hot sun, and daytime temperatures above 100 F (38 C).

(Click the photo below to view slide show)

The physical concepts included in the Peace Garden design can include:

Water harvesting and retention
Beds such as raised and sunken beds
Irrigation system
Composter units
Sustainable food crops and herbs
Decorative flowers and plants
Medicinal herbs
Organic fertilization  
Natural pest control

The Peace Garden design has the flexibility to be modified for use in all climatic conditions.

The Peace Garden exudes not only sustenance, it imparts hope.  These gardens are sustainable given the materials used in bedding construct and the native plants chosen for strategic planting.  The elements of this design work together to demonstrate and facilitate healing and spiritual transformation within the physical and mental dimensions.

Later in adulthood, whilst working, with troubled youth, Brenya emphasized that no matter the situation one finds oneself in, through cognitive processes one can conceptualize a better place such as paradise (within one’s minds’ eye), so go ahead and choose to view one’s surroundings to be a reflection of paradise.  Through such conceptualization, paradise is manifested.  Each morning she welcomed each charge with the words:  “Welcome to Paradise”.  Her charges internalized this concept and then systematically transformed their surroundings.  They transformed their surroundings by using gardens and visual art; they literally brought paradise to the environment.  They honored Brenya by erecting a garden sign inscribed with the word "Paradise".  The once dire environment was transformed.

Peace Gardens can be used to fashion peace in areas of conflict.  Both the depth of intervention and the resolutions resulting from tending a peace garden are invaluable.  Through the medium of Peace Gardens, Brenya seeks to bring change to hurting souls.

The model of the original Peace Garden can be found at the residence Brenya Twumasi shares with her husband and children.  Her Peace Garden consists of a variety of garden rooms including a peace prayer room.  See photos.  Footnote - 2009