Children's Garden Network Garden Directory Registration Opens ~ There's Good Reason to Register by February 15, 2008

From Stu Nunnery & Children's Garden Network:

The Children's Garden Network (CGN) Launches Website and School Garden Directory

For Immediate Release
January 23, 2008

Media Contact
Stu Nunnery
401-592-0209

Providence, RI At Pilgrim High School in Warwick, the Peace, Happiness and Serenity Garden will allow students to display Asian-inspired sculptures that they create in class. For students at International Charter School their butterfly garden is being designed to provide hands-on learning experiences that are tied to curriculum standards. This and additional information from these and other schools and youth organizations in Rhode Island will be available to see on the newly launched Children's Garden Network website.

The website features the CGN Garden Directory that allows schools and youth organizations that have a garden in place or in process to register on line, add pictures and edit information about their garden places and programs throughout the year.

Whether employing an indoor grow box or windowsill pot, creating a green space next to the playground, or still in the planning stages, all schools and youth organizations are invited to register. Simply log onto www.ChildrensGardenNetwork.org and click on the 'Register Your Garden" tab.

"We want to assist schools and youth organizations to be more visible to the community and to others who might be able to help them grow their garden programs. And they're an inspiration to others as well," says Stu Nunnery, Director of the RI Center for Agriculture Promotion and Education (RICAPE), the non-profit organization coordinating the initiative – "Campaign 2010 – A Garden at Every School." Through the CGN, RICAPE last year provided grant and service awards to 12 schools around RI to jump start the campaign and develop model programs whose experiences might inspire others. Throughout the campaign, the CGN Team will assist communities to grow garden education programs with the goal of such a program at every school and youth organization in RI by the end of the decade.

Each registered location will be counted toward the 2010 goal. Schools that register their gardens by February 15 will be featured in the Children's Garden Network garden display at the Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show from February 21-24 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.

"We're excited about the launch of the Children's Garden Network website and the responses to it. It's filling an important need." says Nunnery. "The critical issues for most schools growing garden programs are organization, planning and resources. This site provides important guideposts along the way and details on how to access what's needed." In addition to the CGN Garden Directory, the site generates the "Comm-Post," an e-newsletter available to anyone who signs up for it on line.

For more information contact Stu Nunnery at ricape@cox.net or call 401-592-0209