In My Garden Blog
March 20, 2003
New England
By
Suzanne DeJohn,
Candler, NC
National Garden Month celebrates all the ways plants sustain us and enhance our lives.
Celebrate Gardening
It seems like we're forever hearing about another week being set aside as a celebration of something or other. In a quick Internet search I found National Clown Week, National Customer Service Week, National Emu Week, National Elevator Escalator Safety Awareness Week, and, my favorite, National Baton Twirling Week, to name just a few. And, you guessed it, there is also an official National Garden Week!
What is National Garden Week?
Back in the mid 1980s the National Garden Bureau began collaborating with 23 other horticultural organizations nationwide to create a week-long celebration of gardening. Their dreams were realized when in 1986 former President Reagan signed a proclamation designating the second full week in April as National Garden Week.
In 2002 the National Gardening Association resolved to expand the week into a month-long celebration of one of America’s favorite hobbies. We've created a Web site (http://www.nationalgardenmonth.org) that encourages people to recognize and celebrate all the ways that plants sustain us. Because we believe that gardening has the power to transform individuals and communities, the theme of our celebration is "The Power of Gardening."
Ways to Celebrate
This year's long, cold, and snowy winter makes the arrival of spring that much more anticipated, and what better way is there to celebrate National Garden Month than by doing something new and different?
In Your Backyard
Gardeners already celebrate the arrival of spring in their own ways by starting seeds, planting trees, tidying up gardens, and so on. This year, think big! Maybe you've always wanted to create a rose arbor, plant fruit trees, or try your hand at growing grapes and making your own wine. Or perhaps you've been smitten by a certain cuisine – Thai, Mexican, or Cajun, for example. Why not do some research and plant vegetables and herbs that will allow you to cook these foods at home? You might even find a neighbor from one of these heritages who will share his or her knowledge of growing and preparing the culture's foods.
In Your Neighborhood
Consider expanding your celebration by joining neighbors in a town beautification project. This could be as simple as spending a Saturday morning "greening up" an abandoned park by picking up trash. Or you might build and plant a raised flowerbed in front of your local library, or adopt a portion of your town green, or even start a community garden! Ask your neighborhood school if they could use your extra seedlings, and volunteer to help students plant them in the schoolyard.
Think Globally
Plant an additional row in your garden and donate the produce to a local food bank. People across the country have joined forces to end hunger in their communities. Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) was launched in 1995 as a public service campaign of the Garden Writers Association (GWA). To participate in this national campaign, you report your donations to the GWA, and they keep track of the totals. Almost two million pounds of food have been donated so far! The concept is simple; the benefits are far-reaching. To learn more, go to their web site: http://www.gwaa.org/par/
Learn about the new National Organic Standards that determine what foods can be labeled organic. (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/.) Consider joining your state's Natural Organic Farming Association (NOFA) chapter. Go to http://www.nofaic.org/chapters.php for links to state chapters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. Maine has its own organization, MOFGA (http://www.mofga.org). Join these farmers, gardeners, and consumers in working to promote healthful, locally grown foods; strong communities; a cleaner environment; and responsible land stewardship.
Join a CSA. CSA stands for community-supported agriculture, and it is a worldwide movement that links farmers with their neighbors, with both sharing in the risks associated with farming. Members purchase shares up front, providing the farmers with money for early-season, start-up costs. Throughout the growing season, members get a weekly share of the harvest. If there is a bumper crop of something, members share in the bounty. If a crop fails, the farmers don't lose their shirts. CSAs ensure a regional food supply and allow consumers to know just how their food is being grown. To learn more about CSAs, visit this UMASS Web page: http://www.umass.edu/umext/csa/about.html
I hope this has given you some ideas for celebrating National Garden Month. And by the way, don't put your party hat away at the end of April -- National Emu Week is May 3 – 11!
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