MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It’s spring and Fiskars, a leader in the lawn and garden industry, is gearing up its Project Orange Thumb program to help provide groups across the U.S. and Canada with tools, materials and resources they need to create beautiful and productive community garden spaces. To date, Project Orange Thumb has contributed over $1.4 million to more than 140 community groups and is pleased to name the following 11 organizations to this year’s list of grant and garden makeover recipients.
This summer Fiskars will head down to Mobile, Alabama for the U.S. garden makeover with Volunteers of America of Southeast (VOASE) – serving people with developmental disabilities. The Eagles Landing Community Garden will be installed onsite at a housing shelter for veterans. The new garden will reduce food budgets while producing nutritious food, as well as aid in the development of stronger community through cooperative endeavors and increased self-sufficiency. Plans are underway for the one-day garden makeover in partnership with The Home Depot Foundation.
“This is the 12th year of the program and it’s incredible to see the natural outgrowths of these gardens -- not only the healthy food they provide, but also the creative expression and shared action they inspire,” said Fiskars President Paul Tonnesen. “This is one way we can help grow healthy communities, and for a company that’s turning 365 years, we know how to build things that are long-lasting.”
This year Fiskars received nearly 600 applications. In addition to the garden makeover recipient, the following 10 organizations were selected to receive garden grants consisting of $5,000 in cash and tools to help support their community garden goals.
2014 Project Orange Thumb Grant Recipients:
- Riverfront Community Garden, Vancouver, British Columbia
- Pine Manor Improvement Association, Fort Meyers, Florida
- Island School Community Garden, Lithue, Hawaii
- Growing North Lawndale Together, Chicago, Illinois
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Garden, Lafayette, Louisiana
- Bean Sprout Garden, Palisade, Minnesota
- Historic Miss Tillie’s Corner Community Garden, St. Louis, Missouri
- Onions for Autism-Veggies for Vets, Columbia Falls, Montana
- Little Sprouts, Wilmington, North Carolina
- East Passyunk Crossing Community Gardens, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Through Project Orange Thumb grants, Fiskars awards cash, garden tools and materials to help support community garden goals across North America. During a Project Orange Thumb garden makeover, Fiskars partners with The Home Depot Foundation (U.S.), Canadian Tire Corporation (Canada), and community partners to transform unused spaces into blossoming neighborhood gardens in a single day.
An additional 2014 Project Orange Thumb garden makeover will take place in Saskatoon, SK Canada in June.
For further information on the Project Orange Thumb program and recipients, visit www.ProjectOrangeThumb.com. Updates of each garden’s progress throughout the growing season will also be posted to Fiskars Facebook page.
ABOUT FISKARS
Fiskars Corporation is a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors. The world famous Orange-Handled Scissors are a registered trademark of Fiskars Corporation. The group has a strong portfolio of trusted international brands including: Fiskars, the World’s #1 Scissors Brand, Iittala and Gerber. Founded in 1649, Fiskars has 365 years of product quality excellence and is Finland’s oldest company. Please visit www.fiskars.com and www.facebook.com/fiskars.
ABOUT PROJECT ORANGE THUMB
Established in 2002, Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb® is a community gardening initiative that provides groups across the U.S. and Canada with tools, materials and resources they need to create beautiful and productive community garden spaces. Project Orange Thumb has provided over $1.4 million to more than 140 community groups. For more information, visit www.ProjectOrangeThumb.com.
