Each year, stillbirthday holds a Hearts Release in special ways, including from a hot air balloon. The first hot air balloon ride took place in October 2013, and 1,500 babies names were written onto tiny floral seeded hearts and released from the balloon into several yards and a grassy field just behind a church.
Because each annual event has a new URL, here you can follow along the Hearts Release updates all in one place:
- 2015 Hearts Release (babies’ names are currently being added here)
- 2014 Hearts Release
- 2013 Hearts Release
. .
F.A.Q. about the stillbirthday Hearts Release:
Can I be a part of the actual release?
Each year, we open new opportunities to be involved and invite you to be a part of the actual event. Old World Balloonery‘s enormous balloon, Juliet, is the only 6 passenger hot air balloon in the entire region, and their professionalism and support for our 2013 event and cause has been exceptional! Other ways we release the hearts are at retreats or other special occasions. In 2014 the Hearts Release will begin at Love Wildly.
What flowers will grow from the hearts?
The hearts contain seeds to these flowers:
- Bird’s Eye – Annual
- Clarkia – Annual
- Black Eyed Susan – Perennial
- Catchfly – Annual
- Snapdragon – Annual
- English Daisy – Perennial
- Sweet Alyssum – Annual
Can I have a photo of my heart?
Each event will have photos, but not every event will have professional photography or videography like our first hot air balloon ride. Because there are thousands of hearts that are handwritten in this process, it is too difficult for each heart to be individually photographed. I could request a small donation for an individual photo as a way to narrow this inquiry, but to me that feels like it takes away from the free inclusion I want everyone to have as a part of our Hearts Release. Instead I encourage you to view the web page where you’ve added your baby’s name, and know that your baby is included. I’d also love to see you register for the event and meet you in person there.
How do I plant the hearts?
SUPPLY LIST
- a pot for planting
- some good potting soil
- plantable paper
- water
- a sunny corner
STEP 1 – PREPARE YOUR POT
Fill your pot 2/3 full with good potting soil. Tamp down the soil and add more if necessary. You want the pot to be firmly full, but not packed. The paper can be planted indoors or outside, so you get to choose according to the temperature and conditions at the time of planting (we don’t recommend planting outside if it’s blizzarding or desert-hot!).
STEP 2 – PLANT THE PAPER
Take your plantable paper and cover the soil in the prepared pot with the paper. It’s okay if the paper overlaps. Spread a 1/8 to 1/4 inch layer of soil over the plantable paper pieces and tamp down gently.
STEP 3 – WATER DURING GERMINATION
After planting the paper in your pot, give it a good soak. You want the paper and the soil to be nicely damp but not swimming in water. During the first 10 days, keep the paper moist at all times. The water is necessary for germination.
STEP 4 – CARE AFTER GERMINATION
Once sprouts appear, continue to keep the paper moist but be careful not to overwater. Once sturdy plants appear, water as needed. Here’s what the pot looks like after planting a greeting card:
Where can I learn more about these hearts?
Stillbirthday confidently uses the highest quality products for our Hearts Release. Our hearts are purchased each year from Botanical PaperWorks.
How can I share this event with others?
However is best! You can share the video, this link, or click on this photo to save to your computer, so that others you know can add their babies’ names to our Hearts Release event.
Can I support this in a tangible way?
It is an honor for you to be a part of the event in a financial way. The inclusion of our babies names written onto floral seeded hearts is a beautiful demonstration of love and it is free for you to include your babies’ names. If you’ll like to give financially, we are very thankful, and there are two ways you can.
01.} If you’ll like, you can purchase a bag of hearts (we include the whole rainbow) and send them to our headquarters, at:
The M0M Center
101 W. Washington Street
Kearney MO 64060
02.}We offer the opportunity with a simple single dollar amount, that you can change to any level of giving you choose. Just use the little cart button below.
[wp_cart_button name=”Hearts Release Giving” price=”1.00″]
