While transitioning around the CPM campus, you may have noticed a garden with a sign “Plant a Seed”. This is the Peace Garden, which was started in 2004 by Ms. Smith’s daughter.

Ms. Smith is one of CPM’s hard-working custodians. She enjoys her job, and likes “keeping the campus clean.” Ms. Smith has contributed many years to the Edmonds School District. She started working in the kitchen 17 years ago. Now, she is often sanitizing and cleaning rooms around the school.

Her daughter went to CPM in the year of 2004. This was during a sensitive time, as the terrorist attacks in New York had shaken many people and students at CPM. The school wanted to do something to make all students feel safe and welcome.

The Peace Garden’s purpose was to “Be where you can go and sit down, and a place where nobody is going to look bad at you, a place for you to be yourself.”

Ms. Smith and her daughter contributed to the beginning of the garden. Now, Ms. Smith takes care of it when she has the time.

Then, students planted seeds of many different flowers to make it a round shape. Parents got vines for the trellis, which is on the side of the sign. The stones were from 1970 and had been made in the science wing. So, they used the stones for a walkway. Today, there are Daffodils, Tulips, Hydrangeas, Wisteria, Bells of Ireland, and three Tiger lilies.

This garden can mean anything to anyone, and it holds a special place in Ms. Smith’s heart. One time, her Dad was very sick and her Mom couldn’t buy flowers. So, Ms. Smith planted seeds. Her Dad said, “Each and every flower that comes up, you’ll think of me.”

Ms. Smith would want kids to be able to plant a seed of peace, then come back and see them grown. She also supported the idea of a CPM club that looked after the Peace Garden. The club could weed it, water the garden, and maybe organize events where students could plant a seed of their choice.

Ms. Smith and her daughter put a lot of effort into this garden, so if her daughter came back and saw the garden in a good condition, “she would be very happy.”

Try to take the time to visit the Peace Garden and think about what it means to you.

Also, a big thanks to Ms. Smith for her time on the interview and willingness to share.