Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb – garden contributions near $1 Million in 2010

Portland Garden Makeover. Photo from Fiskars. See larger image here.

Support for over 115 community groups since 2002

Communities and neighborhoods around the world have been re-thinking their surroundings in recent years. With a shifting economy, a growing awareness of the importance of healthy foods, and an increasing appreciation for beautiful common spaces, neighbors are becoming neighborly again, banding together to shape their small slice of earth through community gardens.

With that in mind, Fiskars® is sowing the seeds of community togetherness with the return of its philanthropic initiative, Project Orange Thumb®. The program, which has awarded nearly $1 million in contributions and supported over 115 community groups since 2002, is comprised of two major elements – an annual gift of cash and garden tools awarded to applicants from across North America, and three spectacular garden makeovers.

Columbus, Ohio garden project.

In 2010, beneficiaries of Project Orange Thumb garden makeovers include:

Portland, Oregon April 28
See makeover here.

Columbus, Ohio June 2
See makeover here.

Vancouver, BC, Canada June 23
And our posting here.

In addition to 2010 makeovers, Fiskars has awarded over $40,000 in grants to 20 gardening groups across the U.S. and Canada who each received $1,000 in the latest garden tools and $1,000 in cash for the purchase of green goods.

Applicants were encouraged to creatively express why their garden would be chosen as one of the world’s most interesting gardens 50 years from now. In response, the company received 1,300 submissions including sculptures, photography, music and movies.

The following organizations were selected for their creativity and thorough planning:

2010 Project Orange Thumb Grant Awardees:

Wakefield Parent Garden Club in Tucson, Arizona
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center in National City, California
Bringing Back Paradise in South Gate, California
Milledgeville Community Garden in Milledgeville, Georgia
Trouser House Garden in New Orleans, Louisiana
Caring Community Gardens- South Gardiner in Randolph, Maine
Art Park in Boston, Massachusetts
Toi-Ticutta Community Garden in Fallon, Nevada
Sunrise Sunset Garden in Newmarket, New Hampshire
Gowanus Canal Conservancy Garden in Brooklyn, New York
Highland Community Vegetable Garden in Niagara Falls, New York
Recycle Garden in New York, New York
Thackeray Garden Group in Cleveland, Ohio
How Does Your Garden Grow- Youth and Teen Project in Bend, Oregon
Amazing Heart in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania
Unity Park Community Garden in Round Rock, Texas
Collaborative Teaching Garden in Appleton, Wisconsin
Pay it Forward Community/School Garden in Waunakee, Wisconsin
Whitby Ajax Community Garden in Whitby, Ontario
Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard in Toronto, Ontario

Edgewood Community Learning Garden, Atlanta, Georgia, 2009

See more about Project Orange Thumb here.

See British Orange Thumb projects here.

And some Australia and New Zealand projects here.