One of last year’s competitors in The Annual Garden Makeover Competition.
While less than ideal spring weather has delayed gardening season by several weeks, the rush has definitely begun. Gardeners are purchasing seeds and plants, digging up the earth, and getting ready for what so many Manitobans do at this time of year — grow some food.
Once again this year, local gardens will provide growers with more than just a harvest of good eats. It will also give them the opportunity to win $1000 worth of prizes for simply turning their yard or balcony into an edible landscape.
The Annual Garden Makeover Competition is back for a second year, enticing Manitobans to create a garden to eat instead of a lawn to mow . Launched last year by local charity Food Matters Manitoba, it attracted entries of over 40 beautiful and edible landscapes.
This year, participants can enter in the Rural, Urban, Under 18, Northern or Newbie categories. Some of the prizes include custom landscaping and gardening consultations from local specialists Sage Garden Herbs and Urban Eatin’.
The idea is to encourage Manitobans to turn their lawn into an edible landscape. There are hundreds of species of edible plants that can thrive in Manitoba. Imagine landscapes with colorful basil, red peppers, rainbow chard, or white apple blossoms. The best part is, once their beauty fades, the feast begins.
“Manitoba Garden Makeover is one more way we are connecting Manitobans to good food and giving families a chance to discover how delicious their garden can be,” says Kreesta Doucette, Executive Director of Food Matters Manitoba.
The contest is easy to enter. All it takes is an eye for finding beauty in edible plants, six photographs of your garden, and filling in a brief online entry form. The contest is open to all Manitobans and gardens of all sizes.
Once photograph submissions open up on June 15th, gardens will be posted online for family, friends, and other gardeners across the province to enjoy. While getting inspired by these gardens, viewers can rate their favourite landscapes to help Food Matters crown the 2014 Manitoba Garden Makeover winner.
More contest details and registration can be found at http://manitobagarden.com/
As a registered charity, Food Matters Manitoba works with northerners, newcomers, farmers and families to harvest, share, and prepare good food.
