Green Education Foundation (GEF) And Gardener’s Supply Co. Announce Winner Of $5,000 Grant For Ou

Nov. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- November 23, 2010— Closer to Earth, (CTE) a unique non-profit engaging at risk youth in organic gardening, has won a $5,000 garden grant from Gardener’s Supply Company and Green Education Foundation (GEF). The grant called on youth gardening programs from across the country to submit entries that demonstrated the impact of their gardens on the community. According to Maree Gaetani, gardening relations, Gardener’s Supply, “We were impressed with all of the entries for the Green Thumb Challenge and it was a difficult decision.  We want to congratulate Closer To Earth’s innovative program as it clearly demonstrated how gardening can change lives in so many ways.”
   
CTE intercepts at-risk youth before they become deeply involved in gang activity, crime or the criminal justice system. The youth are learning valuable life skills through organic vegetable production and the emergency and market food distribution systems. Rachel Kastner, Director of the CTE Youth Gardening Program, says “Gardening with our specific demographic of youth is about more than just educating them in gardening, health and the environment. I have witnessed time and time again the healing and empowerment that working the ground brings to people. The Green Education Foundation and Gardener’s Supply Grant is crucial support for our program’s expansion, so that we can reach more inner-city youth. I would like to sincerely thank them for investing in the lives of youth in Oklahoma City.”

CTE  youth gardens started in 2007 working with youth to take actions to stop climate change through organic gardening and landscaping, recycling, composting and assisting zero waste events by composting the waste stream. Closer to Earth works at two garden sites: Community Youth Outreach Urban Farm in a food desert region of NE Oklahoma City and Central Park Community Gardens located in inner-city NW Oklahoma City. The urban farms include a greenhouse, worm beds, compost piles, and a quarter acre garden. The youth who work in the gardens are encouraged to take home freshly harvested food for their families. Food not taken home is split, half given to local food pantries and half sold to local restaurants.

GEF, a sustainability education non-profit, launched the Green Thumb Challenge in late 2009. The largest youth gardening initiative in history, the Green Thumb Challenge mobilized a nation to plant 5,000 youth gardens in 2009. Standards-based lessons, activities and one-stop gardening resources are all provided on the website, www.GreenThumbChallenge.org.

About Green Education Foundation
Green Education Foundation (GEF), a non-profit organization, is committed to creating a sustainable future through education. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging youth to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions.

About Gardener’s Supply.
Founded in 1983, Gardener's Supply (gardeners.com) is an employee-owned company that serves gardeners nationwide.  Gardener’s Supply is known for providing innovative garden-tested, earth-friendly products combined with practical information.  Located in Burlington, Vermont, the company has won many awards for its patented products and progressive management style.   Gardener’s Supply actively promotes gardening as a way for people to make a difference in their own backyards, in their communities, and in the world at large.

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Green Education Foundation (GEF), a non-profit organization, is committed to creating a sustainable future through education. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging youth to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions. Visit www.greeneducationfoundation.org to register for free and to gain full access to GEF’s comprehensive library of standards-based lessons and activities