‘Eat the food you grow’
HOME GARDEN CONTEST EXPANDS THROUGHOUT THE REGION
It’s time to start working on your gardens and what better motivation than to enter the ‘Grow for It!’ home garden contest?
Previously focused on gardens in the boroughs of Pottstown and Boyertown, this year it has been expanded to include the surrounding townships of Colebrookdale, Douglass (both Montgomery and Berks), New Hanover, Upper Pottsgrove, Lower Pottsgrove, West Pottsgrove, North Coventry and East Coventry. All the townships included are in the Pottstown Area Regional Recreation Committee.
“We’ve been wanting to expand for a number of years,” said Tracy Purdy, a member of the planning committee for the contest and tour, and the president of Mosaic Community Land Trust. “There are a lot of people who are really involved in both of our communities who are the most active members of Mosaic, but they live just a few blocks outside of the borough boundaries.”
Registration for this year’s contest opens on April 26 and closes at 5 p.m. on June 21. The judging, done by seven judges, takes place between July 12 and 26.
Free to register
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, it’s free to register and the mission of the contest, sponsored by Mosaic Community Land Trust, Pottstown Health & Wellness Foundation, and Building a Better Boyertown, is to encourage and support gardening for both beginners and experienced gardeners. In turn, this will contribute to the physical and mental health of residents. It also promotes a sense of community among the participating communities.
It’s also a wonderful way to help contribute to improving your community by making it more attractive to neighbors and passersby.
There are seven contest categories including ‘General Garden’, ‘Pleasant Porch’, ‘Outdoor Oasis’, ‘Pocket Garden’, ‘Curb Appeal’, ‘Edible Garden’ and ‘Youth Gardener’. The ‘Youth Gardener’ category is aimed at getting youngsters to participate in the contest.
A new category added this year is “Pleasant Porches.”
“We’re looking for someone to really pep up their house,” said Purdy. “It might not involve a ton of gardening.”
Gateway to your home
According to the ‘Grow for It!’ category description, your residence’s entrance is the gateway to your home.
“An enticing and welcoming porch makes an impact on our community,” their website states. “Whether it’s one plant or 20, this category is for those who make their entranceway a vibrant space.”
Each contest registrant chooses one category to enter. Five cash prizes will be awarded per category with the first place winnings totaling $200; second place, $15; third place, $100; fourth is $75 and 5th place winners receive $50 (the ‘Youth Garden’ category winners receive half of each of these
amounts).
Purdy is hopeful the expansion of the contest will result in an increase of entries.
“In a normal year we usually get 60 entrants from Pottstown and 30 from Boyertown,” she said. “We’re hoping to nudge that up to about 125 entrants — that would be fantastic.”
Garden tour
This year’s garden tour, taking place on Saturday, July 13, from 8 a.m. to noon, will feature winners from last year and include about nine gardens.
The contest gets people excited to be outside and garden.
“It’s incredible exercise and an opportunity to eat the food you grow,” Purdy said.
Registration for the ‘Get Growing!’ contest begins on April 26, but in the meantime, you can learn about the different categories and eligibility guidelines at www.homegardencontest.com