WEST CHICAGO, IL – With overwhelming interest and participation, school and community gardening continues to grow in popularity across the nation as Burpee Home Gardens announces the winners of its 2012 “I Can Grow” Youth Garden Award. In its third year, the “I Can Grow” Youth Garden Award received more than 500 applications double the amount received in 2011 from community and urban school gardens across the United States.
This year’s grand-prize winners are:
* Islands High School in Savannah, Ga.
* P.S. 323 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
* The Village of Arts and Humanities in Philadelphia, Pa.
In addition, this year’s runner-up winners are:
* City of Houston WaterWorks Education Center in Humble, Texas
* Urban Youth Impact in West Palm Beach, Fla.
* Pleasant Ridge School Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio
“The huge increase of applicants from nearly every state in the country shows just how widespread the youth and school gardening movement has become,” said Burcu Beba, brand manager for Burpee Home Gardens. “We are thoroughly impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication demonstrated in each application and are eager to support these young and novice gardeners as they get growing this spring.”
All winners will receive up to 500 vegetable and herb plants, including the Burpee BOOST collection; 5 gallons of Daniels® Plant Food; one hose-end sprayer; and a Flip Video™ camera to document the garden’s progress throughout the year on the Burpee Home Gardens blog.
In addition, grand-prize winners will receive $2,500 in garden supplies and on-site assistance for initial garden layout and installation from the experts at Burpee Home Gardens. All 500+ applicants will receive vegetable and flower seeds from Burpee, as well as educational materials, to keep their gardens growing.
The 2012 “I Can Grow” Youth Garden Award assists established or start-up school and community gardens that demonstrate well-developed and staffed plans for youth-centered educational programs emphasizing nutrition and food production, environmental awareness, social responsibility and scholastic integration.
The selected winners’ gardens will be planted in spring 2012. To see how these school and community gardens are flourishing throughout the year, visit the Burpee Home Gardens blog at www.burpeehomegardens.com/blog and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BurpeeHomeGardens.
Growers and retailers can also access advice, tips and ideas on starting their own school or community garden by checking out the “I Can Grow” portion of the Burpee Home Gardens website.
Burpee Home Gardens® is a program of garden-ready vegetables, herbs, and flowers available nationally at retail garden centers. Backed by the 136-year history of Burpee, the first name in home gardening, Burpee Home Gardens provides gardeners with time-tested varieties and information, ideas and inspiration for success. For more information visit burpeehomegardens.com.
Source: Ball Horticulural Company