Just found this in my email this morning. So. It's not a bad program, and it typifies the absolute dizzying rush to start community gardens everywhere. That it is in Chicago, where there are already zillions of community gardens and strong community support, isn't terribly surprising. Every city can use more.
However, I don't see ACGA. I see Franklin Park Conservatory, which was so eager to "host" ACGA, and now is "home" to our organization. But no ACGA. I see National Gardening Association, our "twin" organization who went another direction in the early 80s after discussion of a merger fell apart. But no ACGA. I see Scotts-Miracle-Gro and their "Gro-Good". That's a big chemical company, right, pushers of Round-Up and Miracle-Gro? About those "tips" they are giving the kids - I mean, it's very generous and it's their money (though they are harvesting a huge amount of national publicity for 14 plots...), but do you think maybe they might be selling something, too? And still no ACGA. I don't know what it means, exactly. Except, perhaps, that this modest little email list, my first contact with ACGA over a decade ago, through it all has been an invaluable tool and irreplaceable community. Thanks, everyone. Don Boekelheide Charlotte NC www.urbanministrycenter.org ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: GWA Office <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 12:05:27 AM Subject: Plant A Row to Promote Edibles in Chicago GWA Foundation Media Advisory May 6, 2009 Chicago Residents to Reap the Benefits of Gardening Initiative New community edible garden dedication part of nationwide campaign to reduce hunger WHAT: The Garden Writers Association, Plant A Row for the Hungry and the GroGood Partnership* conclude a national 5-city campaign promoting vegetable and community gardening with installation and dedication of new community gardens at Chicago's Clarendon Park. The new garden plots will be tended by area residents and youth organizations to grow food to donate to local food agencies. WHY: More than 500,000 Chicago-area residents rely on local food banks to provide food for their meals. And with a 32 percent increase in demand for emergency food assistance in Chicago alone, the Garden Writers Association, ScottsMiracle-Gro and their philanthropic partners Keep America Beautiful, Keep Chicago Beautiful and the Chicago Park District are teaming up on the national GroGood gardening program to encourage community members of all ages to grow and donate fresh produce to local food agencies. WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 9 a.m. (Dedication ceremony starts promptly at 10 a.m.) WHO: City of Chicago officials Joyce Kagan Charmatz, President, Keep Chicago/Illinois Beautiful Gail Cunningham, Senior Vice President, Keep America Beautiful Representatives from the Chicago Park District Robert LaGasse, Executive Director, Garden Writers Association WHERE: Clarendon Park, 4501 N. Clarendon Ave., Chicago (located just west of Marine Dr., between Montrose and Wilson) VISUALS: Watch Chicago city officials lead participants taking the GroGood pledge to "grow a garden for the greater good." Local youth and Clarendon Park-area residents will plant and care for gardens of vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit trees as a unique community involvement venue. Residents will be given tips and instructions for creating the 14 garden plots, including eight youth garden plots. Witness the donation garden ceremony, commemorating the establishment of a community garden entirely dedicated to growing produce to help reduce Chicago-area hunger. A kid-friendly "Eat a Rainbow" activity station invites children to learn through fun activities how colorful fruits and vegetables are good for you. Kids also get a chance to plant in a take-home container their very own seed to grow into a bean plant, a radish or an eggplant. Through an interactive nature station, kids will learn about bees and butterflies and the important role these insects play in sustaining the ecosystem. The community garden was made possible by ScottsMiracle-Gro and its GroGood Partners,* who will all be on-site for the ceremony. The partners joined forces to create community edible gardens in cities around the country. The Chicago GroGood event is one of five national community gardening events being held between March and May 2009. *GroGood Partners include The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Keep America Beautiful and its Great American Cleanup, Keep Chicago Beautiful, the Garden Writers Association, Plant a Row for the Hungry (a community-based program started in 1995 that assists with hunger relief), Feeding America, the National Gardening Association and the Franklin Park Conservatory. FOR MORE INFORMATION: On-site inquiries: Su Lok, ScottsMiracle-Gro, 937-309-5616, [email protected] Robert LaGasse, Garden Writers Association/PAR, 877-492-2727, [email protected] Off-site inquiries: Liz deAvila, Edelman, 312-233-1267, [email protected] Carol Ledbetter, Garden Writers Association/PAR, 877-492-2727, [email protected] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Forward email This email was sent to [email protected] by [email protected]. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Garden Writers Association Foundation | 10210 Leatherleaf Ct. | Manassas | VA | 20111 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://list.communitygarden.org/pipermail/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org/attachments/20090506/8caa31e3/attachment.html> _______________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. 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