First let me say, “WOW!!!” One hundred twenty-one comments! Thanks, too, for the tweets. Y’all outdid yourselves. NGBF (Non-gardening Best Friend), Aimee, and I found it hard-scrabble plowing to narrow the playing field to three potential winners. Therefore, we also chose three Honorable Mentions. You are all so brilliant, and you inspired me with your stories of saving the planet bit by bit. After much cussing (not really) and discussing, we came up with the following:
First, for the Honorable Mentions:
- #31 Deborah R. Backyard habitats are always near and dear to my heart, and I was impressed by your use of native grasses to stabilize a hillside. Good job!
- #23 Jodi. Paying it forward by teaching school children and their teachers how to grow gardens. Your “Writers in the Schools” program made me think about going to my own school and giving a talk about sustainability, and what better way to beautify the planet than with a garden?
- #65 Mosaic Mom. Taking the Fiskars mower to schools to teach them about sustainable lawn care is a wonderful idea. Dressing in green while doing so made us smile.
Although I didn’t plan it in the first post, the three listed above will each receive a book of my choice. For Jodi, I’m going to send a copy of Sharon Lovejoy’s newest book, Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars: Grandma’s Bag of Tricks
For Mosaic Mom, I’m sending a copy of Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea
For Deborah, I chose Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design
Now, my dear readers, it’s your turn. Because I can’t get the poll to show up in this post, I’ve placed it prominently on the sidebar. You can only vote once, and voting will end on February 8, 2010 at Midnight CST.
Before you make your choice, here are your contestants:
- #64 JP. “I am organizing for my farmers market to get a wireless EBT (food stamp) machine for our vendors, through the USDA. We are a rural county (Grand Isle, VT) without a full service grocery store. Now people won’t have to drive 45 minutes or more to buy good food.” Aimee and I were touched by J.P.’s sincere desire to be more sustainable while helping others. As Aimee said, “The poor want good food too.” She should know. She assists the working poor everyday.
- #92 Mary T. “One of my brothers cleans up crime scenes. Ergo, he has vast knowledge on how to super clean just about anything. Joe and I collectively decided to do something about the tires, which are dumped along a lake near his home. Joe got us some earth-friendly cleaning solution. We scrubbed the tires inside and out. Both of us put out the word that we would put up a tire swing for anyone who wanted one in their yard. I am happy to say that for a while we had more interest in the swings than we had tires!” Aimee and I titled this entry “Of crime scenes and tire swings.” I think it speaks for itself.
Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars by Sharon Lovejoy - #53 Irma. “We have planted our garden for the past year and have cut down buying some vegetables at the store. We have made our own rain barrels to collect rain water so that we may water our garden in lieu of using city water.” Although many of you use rain barrels, this entry struck our fancy because Irma actually built her own rain barrels. Aimee felt like making your own was the best reason for picking Irma’s.
One more thing, I want to thank the Plurkettes (you know who you are) and Robin at Getting Grounded for tweeting the contest several times. Also, thanks to both Shady Gardener and Jan at Thanks for Today for blogging about the contest and even expanding on the theme. Jan is giving away several things on her blog in honor of every day being Earth Day. Now, if I missed anyone who promoted the contest on their blog, please let me know, and I’ll add you to the list.
Thanks so much, everyone, for playing. This was such fun. Also, thanks to Fiskars for providing such a nice prize.
I can’t wait to see who wins.
Wow! What great ideas! (Now I feel like a schlep…)
I voted for JP because my hubby and I recently saw a food stamp program in effect at a farmer’s market in Pennsylvania. We were so impressed and thought the same as JP: the poor, perhaps more than anyone, need healthy options, too. How refreshing to allow people access to informed food choices versus addictive, processed junk?!
Kudos, JP!
Forgot to add…now I can’t decide who to vote for!
It’s great to know there are so many people doing their part to help the environment. I’m sure it was hard to pick just a few winners, but I’m really impressed by the finalists. Thanks for hosting, this, Dee, and being so generous with the prizes of books for the honorable mention awards.
Hi Dee,
What a lovely idea to hold this contest and you’ve had so many competitors too, it must have been real hard to choose. I know that you and Aimee have done most of the hard work but it’s still hard to choose between the 3 remaining contestants. I’ve voted and hope that many will follow!
cheerio,
Yolanda
First, thank you so much for the Honorable Mention!
I was happy to be able to vote for one of your finalists! I’m not going to post who, though, since they’re all extra special.
Wow, Dee! What a fabulous contest. I am impressed by all the good ideas people have. Tough choices. I registered my vote!
Robin Ripley
So many good ideas, I didn’t envy you and Aimee having the daunting task of picking out the finalists. But from the comments, it sounds like you picked three very deserving entries.
Great list and great contest. You and Aimee are to be commended for even being able to narrow the list down! I just have to say though, that I voted for #64 JP because that’s what we’re doing right now with our farmers market!
The overwhelming response to this give-away is a true testament to those committed to our children’s future. Thank you for providing a place for sustainable gardeners to have voice…and great prizes too. H.
I really agree with your choices, from the writeups, and am pleased to see the honorable mentions you chose, as well;-) Congrats to them! I will make my way to your sidebar to cast my vote-that’s going to be a tough one! Thanks Dee, for mentioning the earth day project on my blog & for adding the link:-) Good luck to the 3 finalists! Jan
I’m impressed by the creativity of your readers. Some many great ways to help the planet.
An excellent contest and I think you both came to an excel;lent list of finalists, I am off to vote now for the one that jumped out at me.
I voted for Mary T. because every child needs a chance to swing in an old tire. Plus cleaning up old tires………..that takes a strong stomach! At least they came from a lakeside and not a ditch! This could very well become a “movement”, using dumped tires for swings.
Super cool choices!
I can’t decide which idea I like best! The final three are all so good!
I know, it was hard. That’s why I chose y’all to do it. 🙂 ~~Dee
Dee, Wasn’t this giveaway fun~~and hard work for you and Aimee! The entries were fantastic…and the final three are all first place! You are the best! Gail
It was a lot of fun. I hope to do it again sometime.~~Dee