The Union County Master Gardener Association 
is pleased to announce the 

Adopt-A-Pot Program 

as the 
Union County Master Gardener Project of the Year for 2002

The Adopt-A-Pot Campaign was initiated by the Union County Master Gardeners as a means of educating the public about sharing their garden harvest with the less fortunate of the community through the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Program, which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to local food pantries. The Association partnered with the Union County Convention and Visitor's Bureau, which was interested in a project that would provide streetscape beautification throughout Union County Communities. The Adopt-A-Pot Program decorated the communities with flowers and provided a vehicle to inform the public about sharing their harvest with others.

The Master Gardeners sought volunteers to grow and plant the seedlings. A local FFA Chapter offered to grow the plants from seed until they could be planted in the containers. The Master Gardeners solicited other community service groups such as 4-H and Scouting Groups to assist with the container planting. The Convention and Visitors Bureau was successful in securing sponsors for 60 container gardens.  Twenty-five area businesses served as partners in the Adopt-A-Pot Program by supplying everything from containers, storage, potting soils and fertilizer to brochures and promotional items for the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Program.

Each of the container sponsors received OSU Factsheets with horticultural information to teach them how to care for their flowers and vegetables and about container gardening. They also received information about the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Program informing them how they could serve the community by sharing their harvest with local food pantries. This information included the locations and contact numbers where they could donate their produce and encouraged them to consider planting extra for those in need. The parlsey and Swiss Chard amidst the petunias and geraniums served as a constant reminder of the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Program.

The Adopt-A-Pot Program made an impact during its' first year. Several  communities have inquired how to implement Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Program after seeing the Adopt-A-Pot Program in Union County. The Adopt-A-Pot Program also received a grant from the Wal-Mart Corporation in recognition of the service provided to the community by increasing the awareness of growing food for those in need.