press release

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January 11, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gardeners Help Fight Hunger by Donating Produce

An exuberant edible display garden, “Plant a Row - Share the Bounty” will launch the Oregon Plant a Row for the Hungry project (PAR) at the OAN Yard, Garden and Patio Show, February 18-20, 2005.

The display garden, designed and built by local garden communicators, encourages gardeners to plant extra fruits and vegetables to share.  Garden celebrities will appear at the garden to explain the PAR project and offer tips for growing edible plants.  A raffle-type drawing will raise funds for Oregon Food Bank, and lucky ticket-holders will win a greenhouse or one of several fruit trees.

Garden centers sponsoring PAR projects will be named at the display garden.  PAR sponsors will link their customers who grow extra produce with nearby food banks.  Gardeners will be able to donate fresh foods conveniently, and PAR businesses will benefit from strong community relations and a renewed interest in edible gardening. 

Oregon PAR committee members will answer questions about the PAR project at the OAN Retail Chapter meeting on February 3, or contact Oregon PAR Chair Elizabeth Petersen for more information. 

Join the effort to help gardeners Plant a Row and Share the Bounty.

To list your business as a PAR-ticipating garden center, please submit contact information for the YGP PAR handout and signage.  Guidelines for setting up a PAR project available.

Plant a Row for the Hungry is a project of Garden Writers Association.

Thank you for your help.

Elizabeth Petersen

gardenwrite@comcast.net