Blooming good
1 September 2010
Yates and Junior Landcare have teamed up in a stunning new initiative to inspire budding young gardeners to grow the tallest sunflower.
The Yates Junior Landcare Sunflower Challenge invites all under 16’s, schools and youth groups to get their green hands at the ready and grow the tallest sunflower, the sunflower with the largest heard or to take the most creative sunflower photo.
Heather Campbell, CEO of Landcare Australia, is thrilled with the new initiative.
“We are delighted to be able to provide encouragement and support to all young, budding gardeners and to help educate them on the importance of growing produce and the environmental benefits achievable from sustainable gardening practices,” Heather said.
The challenge follows the rip roaring success of the Yates Junior Landcare Pumpkin challenge. 20,000 young people took part and the group winner was the McGrath family from Toowoomba Queensland with a 175kg whooper of a pumpkin. The individual winner was a monstrous 94kg pumpkin grown by Boyd Wales from Walcha, rural NSW.
Judy Horton, Communications Manager, Yates hopes that the Sunflower Challenge will foster a new generation of junior gardeners.
“The previous challenges we have run in conjunction with Junior Landcare have been hugely successful. We hope participants will enjoy discovering their green fingers and seeing the results of their labour,” Judy commented.
Interested participants should register through the Yates Junior Landcare Sunflower Challenge website. Keen young gardeners will receive free giant sunflower seeds to be planted late October, early November either at home or in schools. They’ll also receive a project kit which encourages kids to carefully tend their giant sunflowers during the hot summer months. Entrants can monitor their progress by logging onto the Yates Junior Landcare Sunflower Challenge website and once their giant blooms have matured upload a photo.
Registrations close 22 October and winners will be announced in March 2011.
Yates is also providing grants to help schools and youth groups undertake School Environmental Management Plans (SEMP). To apply for these grants visit www.juniorlandcare.com.au.
For more information and to register in the Yates Junior Landcare Sunflower Challenge visit www.juniorlandcarechallenge.com.au
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