Around the Industry: May 12, 2010
North American Water Garden Society Seeks Pepsi Funding
The North American Water Garden Society recently submitted a proposal to the Pepsi Refresh Project for funding to install 50 outdoor ecosystem classrooms in schools across the United States through its Ponds for Kids program. Ponds for Kids is a cooperative project that helps schools in the construction of self-sustaining pond ecosystems on the school’s property, which creates an outdoor classroom to influence a new generation of kids and fosters their understanding and appreciation for the environment. The Pepsi Refresh Project provides grants each month to entrants looking to make a positive impact in the community. More than 1,000 project ideas are submitted each month in various categories; online voting for accepted proposals occurs during the month of May and the top community projects receive funding from the Pepsi Refresh Project. To vote for the Ponds for Kids proposal sponsored by the North American Water Garden Society, visit the Pepsi Refresh Project’s website. You can vote once a day during the month of May. If NAWGS wins the funding, they will use Certified Aquascape Contractors from across the country to help identify schools interested in outdoor education and to complete installation of projects.
Walters Gardens Takes Home National Web Award
In January, Walters Gardens took the top regional award for its newly redesigned website, www.PerennialResource.com and became eligible for the national awards this spring. And on April 21,Walters Gardens took home first place in the category of “Websites: Educational Focus. The vigorous competition included huge national and international participants like Syngenta, John Deere, Bayer CropScience, and DuPont Crop Protection, all of which have exceptionally large marketing budgets compared to Walters Gardens, Inc. For more information on Walters Gardens, visit www.waltersgardens.com.
Green America Awards Honor Outstanding Community Gardens
Three outstanding U.S. community gardens were recently honored with 2010 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards. The grand prize award of $2,500 went to the Cleveland Botanical Garden for its Green Corps Urban Youth Program that is creating a “learning farm” on what was once a blighted urban lot. First place ($1,500 in plants) was awarded to the SEEDS program in Durham, N.C., which is developing community gardens and a youth-driven, urban farming leadership development program that empowers teens by teaching organic gardening, sound business practices, healthy food choices and food security values. Honored with the second place award ($1,000 in plants) was Gifford Park Community Garden in Omaha, Neb. They plan to expand their Teen Market Garden Program, which teaches young adults about healthy living through gardening and connects youth with adult role models. These winners were chosen from more than 200 applications submitted by community groups, nonprofit organizations and gardening programs. For more information about the Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards, visit Nature Hills’ website.
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