National GroGood Program Brings Community Gardens to Chicago

Multigenerational edible gardening initiative to address the City of Big Shoulders' hunger needs 


CHICAGO, May 9  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Uptown-area residents got the community garden they've long desired on Saturday, thanks in part to The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and its group of philanthropic partners in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful, Keep Chicago Beautiful, the Chicago Park District, Garden Writers Association, Plant a Row for the Hungry, the National Gardening Association and Franklin Park Conservatory.  Through its national GroGood edible gardening program, this coalition installed a local garden dedicated to growing produce to provide Chicago's hungry with fresh-grown fruits and vegetables.

The garden installation and dedication ceremony took place on Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Clarendon Park (4501 N. Clarendon Ave.) in the Uptown neighborhood.  Chicago city officials led local youth and community groups in taking the GroGood pledge to grow an edible garden and donate a portion of their harvests to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which recently reported a 32 percent increase in demand for emergency food assistance.

During the event, GroGood program partners and local officials were on hand to dedicate the installation of 14 garden plots, including eight to be tended exclusively by local youth, and to provide gardening tips and instruction to local residents.  The GroGood program is designed to encourage area residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables, while also giving back to their communities.

"The Chicago Park District is thankful for this generous donation and the many partners that worked to help build a community garden at Clarendon Park," said Timothy J. Mitchell, Chicago Park District general superintendent and chief executive officer.  "Private-public partnerships, such as this one, help creatively fund neighborhood projects during these tough economic times.  With this edible community garden, the community will be able to work together to grow their own fruits and vegetables.  Community gardens, along with our parks, not only grow plants, but they grow people too."

Area youth organizations engaged in an "Eat a Rainbow" activity station, which encouraged interactive learning about the health benefits associated with consuming a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables.  ScottsMiracle-Gro's national and local GroGood partners are: Keep America Beautiful, Keep Chicago Beautiful, the Chicago Park District, the Garden Writers Association, Plant a Row for the Hungry, the National Gardening Association and Franklin Park Conservatory.

ScottsMiracle-Gro is donating 1 million pounds of fresh produce to feed those at risk of hunger and is asking Americans to pledge to grow and donate an additional 1 million pounds of produce to help their communities.  Other cities with GroGood awareness events this year are Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

"It's inspiring to see how across the country, gardens have the power to bring out the best in people and their neighborhoods," said Su Lok, director of corporate and community partnerships for ScottsMiracle-Gro. "As more gardeners look to grow their own produce this season, we hope they share a portion of their harvest with those in need in their community."

For more information on GroGood, food gardening and how to locate a local food agency that accepts fresh produce, please visit http://www.grogood.com/.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro

With nearly $3 billion in worldwide sales and more than 6,000 associates, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well.  The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry.  In the U.S., the Company's Scotts(R), Miracle-Gro(R) and Ortho(R) brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup(R) brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto.  In the U.S. the Company operates Scotts LawnService(R), the second largest residential lawn care service business.  In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol(R), Pathclear(R), Evergreen(R), Levington(R), Miracle-Gro(R), KB(R), Fertiligene(R) and Substral(R). For additional information, visit us at http://www.scotts.com/. 

DATASOURCE: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company



CONTACT:  Keri Butler of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, [phone]



Web Site:  http://www.scotts.com/

http://www.grogood.com/ 

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