Welcome to Our Mother’s Garden
Every day is Earth Day at SwapHandMeDowns. This page is dedicated to families, parents, and children — a place to reflect on our world, our ancestors, and the shared garden we all live in.
The Mother’s Garden
The sprouts growing in your family are part of the Mother’s Garden.
When did harmful slavery, drugs, crime, disrespect, pollution, border fighting, and waste begin to harm our human race and our gardens? Millions of men and women died so that you could be born into a world of kindness, equality, and freedom for all who breathe water and air.
Where We Come From
Our ancestors came from ships and distant lands:
- Germans working off debts in early America
- Irish dying in canal systems they built
- Women forced into terrible choices to feed their babies
- Africans enslaved to build crops and infrastructure
- Italians helping build our cities
- Scottish fighting in the early American frontiers
- Asians bringing seeds and plants to barter for survival
- English fleeing oppression for a chance at freedom
- Native Americans suffering loss, disease, and stolen land
Every one of your ancestors survived hardships, wars, diseases, and poverty so that YOU could one day be born. Their sacrifices created the world you see outside your window.
Animals grieve as we do. Elephants visit their dead. They protect their elders and follow them to food and water. Humans once respected nature in the same way — and can again.
Look outside and you will see your Mother's Garden.
Take care of it - it belongs to everyone and everything.
© Copyright Jane Sadowy 2016
A Letter From the Founder
In the USA, over 12 million people go to bed hungry — most of them children. I planted a bean seed in my yard as a symbol of giving. When it grows, I will pass it to my neighbor, and ask them to do the same.
SwapHandMeDowns was created so families could help each other — just as plants need water to survive, children need care, support, and kindness to grow.
Plant a bean seed today, pass the gift on to your neighbor, and help a child, a family, or a friend.
If you have gently used fashions to donate, please visit our donation page and help a family today.