PLANT AMERICA


Focused on Educating, Supporting, Publicizing and Building America's Garden Communities
The Plant America initiative, President Nancy Hargrove's signature project, emphasizes the cornerstone elements of gardening: the variety of garden types; the elements required for healthy, sustainable gardens; an awareness of environmental issues; and resources to provide needed funds to put garden plans into action.
Committees have been created that focus their attention and efforts on exploring, educating and supporting the NGC community on their particular area of expertise. It also establishes an endowment fund to both receive and distribute funds to support NGC member club activities.
The Plant America project, chaired by Betty Cookendorfer, is designed to help NGC members and the public return to the "roots" of why most members join garden clubs - to learn about gardening! This focus has provided a new structure for committees and projects, simplifying and consolidating many former initiatives under new umbrellas.

GARDENING COMMITTEE
The Gardening Committee is chaired by Debi Harrington and comprised of 8 subcommittees.
Commemorative Gardens                                 Charlotte Croft
Community Gardens                                         Debi Harrington
Habitat for Humanity Landscaping                 Angie Raitano
Headquarters Gardens Consultant                  David Robson
Healing & Therapy Gardens                            Carol Vallens
Indoor & Container Gardening                        Julie Schoenike
Sustainable Gardening & Xeriscaping            Diane Hughs
Urban Gardening                                             Teresa Speight

HORTICULTURE COMMITTEE
The Horticulture Committee is chaired by Betty Sanders and is also comprised of a series of related subcommittees.
  • Phenology - Shirley Nicolai
  • Invasive Species - Pam Braun
  • Liaisons to Plant Societies - Gail Corle
  • New Cultiars - Gracie Mitchell
  • Seed: Saved, Heirloom & Exchange - Jo Sellers
  • Soil - Debbie Hinchey
  • Trees & Shrubs - Audrey Coyle

Environmental Concerns and Conservation Committee
The Environmental Concerns and Conservation Committee is chaired by Jacqueline Connell and was created to provide leadership and focus on the core elements of a healthy environment: Air Quality, Land Conservation, and Water Quality; The focus is protection and conservation. This team will provide conservation information for the education of NGC members and the public, emphasizing the topic of water - its conservation and safety in light of the drought conditions and drinking water contaminant issues in parts of the United States.
  • Air Quality - Mary Jacobs
  • Land Conservation - Marian McNabb
  • Water Quality, Protection, & Conservation - Jacqueline Connell

NGC Sponsored Tours
Chaired by Mary Ann Bryant, this committee aims to expand the awareness and educate our members on select gardens in the United States, we will sponsor an annual Garden Tour Trip. 
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Plant America Community Project Grants
This new grant fund is being created to raise funds for, and distribute funds to, local garden club projects. In response to corporate funds not being as available to the NGC community as they used to, President Hargrove has stated that "we must become self sustaining," and the establishment of the grant fund will be a crucial step forward in doing that.
The first grants will be awarded in 2017. Funds will be actively solicited from members, affiliated organizations, sponsors and partners to provide financial and in-kind support for worthy projects. This is not just a 2-year project; the intention is for this to be a perpetual fund that will help sustain member clubs and their projects beyond the 2017-2019 administration.
New Children's Book - The Saved Seed
The Saved Seed is a new youth book written to engage young children in the life cycle of a pumpkin seed. Beautifully illustrated and written by Brenda Moore, the Saved Seed will provide educators and clubs working with children a magnificent tool to introduce the joys of gardening.

Resources
To learn more about any of the above, see the corresponding pages listed under the "Projects" section of the website, or contact the appropriate chairman
For more information, contact:
Betty Cookendorfer, Chairman: Plant America