Myrna Krehbiel has left a legacy of peacemaking, from inner peace to fighting poverty.

Peace Connections in 2001 wanted to collaborate with the community in developing a Giving Garden to provide produce for Salvation Army. So the City of Newton, Kan., loaned the use of a plot at Sixth and Pine streets near Newton’s railroad tracks. The fact that it had been a burial ground for throwaways and trash didn’t keep Myrna Krehbiel, who retired as director of Peace Connections in June, from remaining hopeful. She believed the transformation of anything—whether it be turning hard ground into green vegetables or pain into peace—was possible if people talked to and listened to each other.

“We don’t need to run away from our anger and fear,” said Myrna during a mid-August interview at her home in North Newton, Kan. “Instead, we can accept our emotions and honor them by dealing with them honestly. That helps turn our paralyzing negativity into nurture, curiosity, courage and new capacity.” The Giving Garden is a good example, she said. “It was so packed down, and we dug up old car and doll parts and doorknobs. After we worked leaves, straw and compost into the soil, it loosened up so we could plant vegetables. And now, each year, under the care of Harvey County Extension master gardeners, the garden yields about three tons of vegetables to be shared with others.” …

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