Canadian Garden Writers, The Composting Council of Canada and Canadian Association of Food Banks team up to introduce "Plant a Row - Grow a Row" across Canada

April 27, 2000 - Local food banks and soup kitchens will reap the rewards of the harvest from vegetable gardens throughout Canada thanks to the national introduction of Plant a Row - Grow a Row.

Plant a Row - Grow a Row is a people-helping-people program to assist in feeding the homeless and the hungry in their own communities. The Canadian Association of Food Banks, The Composting Council of Canada and the Canadian members of the Garden Writers Association of America are teaming up to encourage Canadian gardeners to grow a little extra and donate the produce to local food distribution agencies that serve people in need.

"A number of communities in Canada have already been participating in this program," said Julia Bass, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Food Banks. " However, we're delighted that now Plant a Row - Grow a Row will be introduced across Canada by The Composting Council of Canada and the Canadian members of the Garden Writers Association of America (GWAA) with the support of local businesses, municipalities, community groups and master gardeners and, of course, the local food banks."

The growing campaign will be launched during Composting Awareness Week 2000 (April 30th - May 6th). During the week, the organizers will be encouraging Canadians to start preparing their gardens for the planting of vegetable seeds. Events at community gardens and composting facilities are among the many events already in advance stages of planning for the launch activities.

"Composting and gardening go hand-in-hand," said Susan Antler, Executive Director, The Composting Council of Canada. "Plant a Row - Grow a Row is an excellent opportunity for the composting community to contribute their resources to local programs for the benefit of many."

The Canadian members of the GWAA and The Composting Council of Canada will help to spearhead the establishment of local committees comprised of representatives from food banks/soup kitchens (who will be accepting the donations), composting representatives, the master gardening community or local horticultural society and the gardening community. It is these local committees who will ensure the relevance and executional success of Plant a Row - Grow a Row throughout the country.

"Gardeners love to share their harvest and knowledge with each other," said Brian Minter, Canadian gardening media personality and GWAA member. "Plant a Row - Grow a Row is a great way for gardeners across Canada to help make a difference in their community".

The campaign will be supported throughout the gardening season through updates and reminder messages in local gardening columns and other related gardening media.

From mid summer through the fall, the culmination of the campaign will result in the harvesting of vegetables from gardens across Canada and their donation to local food banks and soup kitchens. The food will be 'weighed in' to track the success of each community and to establish benchmarks to be challenged each year.

In addition to the national campaign, the strength and ultimate success of the program rests in local community organization.

Support materials such as seed packages, organizational tips, sample press releases, brochures and other communication materials will be available. Program updates will be available on the website: www.compost.org.

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The Canadian Association of Food Banks is the national umbrella group for food banks in Canada, with members in every province. It distributes corporate food donations and works on behalf of its members and the families they serve, with the objective that no one should go hungry in Canada.

The Garden Writers Association of America is a highly respected organization of professionals communicating about horticulture, gardening, and the environment. Its mission is to provide leadership and opportunities for education, recognition, career development, and a forum for diverse interactions for professionals in the field of garden communications.

The Composting Council of Canada is a national non-profit, member-driven organization with a charter to advocate and advance the use of composting as a means of reducing Canada's waste stream while reclaiming the organic fraction for beneficial purposes.