Burpee Home Gardens expands youth, community gardens award program

Burpee Home Gardens is now accepting applications for the 2011 “I Can Grow” Youth Garden Award, which is an extension of last year’s “I Can Grow” campaign. The Youth Garden Award will sponsor and support urban school and community gardens in cities across the United States in 2011.

The 2011 “I Can Grow” Youth Garden Awards will be presented to established or start-up programs that demonstrate well-developed and staffed plans for a youth- centered educational program, with emphasis on nutrition and food production, environmental awareness, social responsibility, and scholastic integration. The 2011 program will continue the theme Burpee Home Gardens established in 2010.

“We are pleased to continue our support of new and younger gardeners in 2011 through the ‘I Can Grow’ program,” said Jessie Atchison, brand manager for Burpee Home Gardens. “The launch of the nationwide award program will increase our ability to educate and inspire our target consumer audience, and build further awareness and demand for the Burpee Home Gardens brand.”

Selected applicants will be awarded:

• Up to 500 vegetable and herb plants from the Burpee Home Gardens lineup of plants
• $2,500 in garden supplies
• On-site assistance for initial garden layout and installation from Burpee Home Gardens experts
• Five gallons of Daniels Plant Food (an organic-based and sustainable fertilizer) and one hose-end sprayer
• A Flip camera to document the garden’s progress throughout the year

Educators and community garden leaders can visit the Burpee Home Gardens website at www.BurpeeHomeGardens.com to download the application and review eligibility requirements. All entries must be postmarked by Friday, Dec. 3, 2010.

To learn more about the Burpee Home Gardens “I Can Grow” campaign, visit www.BurpeeHomeGardens.com/ICanGrow.