Burpee Gardening is donating half a million flower seed packets to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for distribution to community gardens, schools, and gardeners across Greater Philadelphia.
Along with putting on the world-famous Philadelphia Flower Show each spring, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society uses horticulture to advance the health and well-being of the region.
The donation and distribution will bolster the nonprofit and Burpee’s commitment to bettering Greater Philadelphia through education, environmental improvement, and community unity.
The multifaceted distribution plan includes:
Community Clean Up: Seed distribution will take place across “Love Where You Live” Project Workshops – which aims to better communities through litter clean up, turning vacant lots into green space, creating jobs, and more.
Green Education: The Garden Tenders program will give away seeds to attendees while they learn about gardening and maintaining community gardens.
Local Schools: The PHS will distribute Burpee’s seeds to local schools, hosting school planting days. Additionally, teachers in Philadelphia and beyond can join PHS Green City Teachers and Summer Garden Intensive training in June to receive seeds, learn the basics of gardening, how to teach kids about gardening, and encourage them to get outside and enjoy nature.
Resources: Seeds will be available for pickup at the PHS tool lending library for community gardens registered with the PHS Community Gardens Program, providing resources to keep community gardens throughout the city looking beautiful.
Gardening Community: Philadelphia garden leaders will receive seeds throughout the PHS’ network of over 200 community gardens, which provide beautiful green spaces for communities throughout the city to enjoy.
Charitable Organizations: Seeds will be distributed to 150 City Harvest Community gardens, which provide local food banks, soup kitchens, and neighborhood food distributions with fresh food.
This significant contribution will generate thousands of blooms for the enjoyment of the community and select school populations. Burpee aims to spark individuals and families within the community to cultivate their own gardens, encouraging self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship. Burpee is giving back to the community in honor of this year’s flower show theme, “United by Flowers.”
Seed distribution will begin March 25 and continue throughout the spring and summer gardening season.
Headquartered in Warminster, Burpee breeds and trials plants at its nearby landmark facility, Fordhook Farm, in Doylestown. For more information, visit Burpee online.
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