Disarm Hearts. Forge Peace. Cultivate Justice.

This Great Idea is entirely from the March 27, 2026, RawTools newsletter. It’s chock-full of inspiration.

There may not be a RawTools affiliate near you (they currently exist only in Colorado, Philadelphia, Buffalo (NY), and ‘South’), but that’s no reason not to be inspired by their work.

Please read their full newsletter here.

Essentially, RawTools is a group of peace-oriented blacksmiths who create safe spaces for gun owners to donate their firearms to be repurposed into garden tools and other fun bits, like guitar picks.

Folx can purchase their garden tools and other items from their online store (here). There are plenty of great spring gardening tools – perfect gifts for mom, dad, grandparents, anyone.

Bring this Great Idea to life intergenerationally:

• Read Acts 2:42-47.
• Read the ‘Testimony from a Gun Donor’.
• Consider how these two stories are similar.
• Invite conversations about guns, violence, war, and peace.
  • How do we live more intentionally amidst violence and war?
  • What is our response to threats of violence?
  • How does our response shape our community?
• Wonder together what stories we tell ourselves that keep us in a ‘soldier’ mindset, rather than a ‘civilian’ mindset.
• Invite conversations about intentional living.
• Explore ways you can more intentionally live in peace with yourself and your neighbors.
• Follow the example of the kids in Niagara Falls who are making ‘peace bombs’, aka ‘seed bombs’ from clay, compost, and seeds. It’s a fun and peace-building project for all ages.
• Share the peace bombs with neighbors and encourage planting them soon!

You can support RawTools financially here.