06 April 2010

Get Growing Portland!

April is the month to Get Growing Portland! Who can resist the jaunty little plant and vegetable starts beckoning to your inner gardener from every aisle?  From seed giveaways to a potting station hosted by local gardening experts, the market will provide plenty of inspiration to get out into the garden.

Each Saturday in April, look for the complimentary potting station near the south music stage at the PSU Market. The potting station is hosted by volunteers from community garden organizations who will work with shoppers to plant purchases in portable containers to enjoy at home all summer long. Soil and fertilizer is supplied through the generosity of Portland Nursery and Whitney Farms.

Pick up your Get Growing plant promotion card at the Market information booth anytime during April and use the card when you shop for garden and nursery stock at PFM vendor stalls.  Spend $30 or more and qualify to enter a drawing to win an AeroGrow AeroGarden. The Get Growing prize drawing will take place on April 24 at 1:00 pm.

Get Growing Portland! Schedule:

April 3

·          The first 200 shoppers will receive a complimentary package of seeds from Growing Gardens

·          Potting station (9:00 am – 2:00 pm): hosted by Garden Partners

Through the restorative power of therapeutic gardening, Garden Partners, a non-profit serving the Portland-metro area for eleven years, enhances the holistic health and well being of elders and at-risk youth through their weekly gardening programs.

·          Community table: Oregon SOLV

April 10

·          Potting station (9:00 am – 2:00 pm): hosted by Growing Gardens

Growing Gardens digs at the root of hunger in Portland by building organic Home Gardens in urban backyards and schools. Our Youth Grow school garden clubs create future veggie eaters and cultivators. Our Learn & Grow classes cover cooking, preserving & more.

·          Community table: The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon

April 17

·          Potting station (9:00 am – 2:00 pm): hosted by Portland Environmental Engagement Program (PEEPs)

PEEPs inspires future leaders to serve their communities and the environment. PEEPs works with local middle school youth to engage them in their community and build environmental consciousness through service learning and immersion experiences. The PEEPs program shares the value and fun in service with rising middle school students by engaging in hands-on projects, taking daily field excursions throughout Portland, and tackling local challenges from a different perspective.

·          Community table: Portland Fruit Tree Project

April 24 – Earth Day Celebration

·          Potting station (9:00 am – 2:00 pm): hosted by Metro Master Gardeners

The Metro Master Gardeners program provides relevant, research-based education and outreach to the public of Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties about horticulture and household pests. This information promotes sustainable practices that minimize risks to human health and the environment.

·         EverGreen waste reduction campaign launch with Mayor Sam Adams at 11:30 am

·         Make your own market kit (9:00 am – 2:00 pm). Customers can make a reusable to-go dinnerware kit to hold and easily transport a knife, fork, and spoon (like this). Silverware not included!

·          Cracked Pots will join us  to do a repurposed materials project.

Cracked Pots uses art to encourage our community to creatively look at trash. Reuse is at the heart of all we do. Think before you throw.

·          Get Growing Portland prize drawing for an AeroGrow AeroGarden at 1:00 pm (at the market information booth)

·         Create Plenty will be on hand to educate shoppers about personal waste reduction and ways to kick the plastics habit.

Create Plenty aims to connect and empower everyone to become the producers and consumers of more local goods, while reducing waste.

·          Reusable shopping bag giveaway by season sponsor COUNTRY® Financial

·          Community table: Farmers Ending Hunger

·          Community table: Song Garden Preschool, hosting a children’s craft activity