Vandals destroy garden

Today Mrs. Stapler gets her letter to the editor published - because the local paper didn't (yet) publish it in their weekly edition. :

I address this letter to the inconsiderate individuals who drove through the vegetable garden at Graminia School:

One day after school, several girls gathered at Graminia School to plant a vegetable garden. We chose to do this as our garden was so successful last year. We managed to donate over 100 pounds of food to the Parkland Food Bank, a substantial donation for our small group. It was a terrific learning activity for the girls.

The summer weeks have been spent tending the garden, which is not easy when everyone is busy with their own lives. At the end of September we plan to harvest the garden and once again donate the food.

I have, in the past, enjoyed the thrill of off-road vehicles and I realize that in our little hamlet that makes up Graminia, there isn’t a whole lot to do on a rainy day. However, the damage done here will affect not only those who were to receive the harvest but it will be disheartening to those who worked to provide it.

In our programs, Girl Guides of Canada encourages our children to be responsible citizens and to contribute positively to their community. Perhaps the vandals responsible for the damage to our garden should consider community service as a more productive and much more gratifying recreation.