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Project GREEN Garden Fair 2008

Over $32,000 Raised!

When the doors opened at Carver Hawkeye Arena on May 10, 2008 long lines of shoppers were waiting to enter.  It was a beautiful morning with sunshine and a promise of gardening in the fresh air.  The Arena’s concourse was filled with thousands of plants ready for a new home.  Project GREEN volunteers were standing behind the heavily laden tables, prepared to help customers make selections with options ranging from sunny perennials, groundcovers, shady perennials, to trees and shrubs.  Each plant at the sale was donated by a local gardener and had proven itself winter hardy for our Eastern Iowa temperate zone.   Hundreds of Project GREEN volunteers had spent months in preparation.  Their work included meetings, digging, potting, watering, identifying, pricing, transporting the plants to the Arena and arranging the display tables.  It all came to fruition as throngs of customers filled the aisles.

Customers were greeted by the Information Ladies who distributed fliers showing the location of plants and listing upcoming Project GREEN events.  There were booths of gardening information staffed by representatives from the Johnson County Master Gardeners and the Garlic-Mustard Challenge Organization, Iowa City Forester Terry Robinson, and local bird expert Jim Scheib.  There was a long table filled with garden art donated by local artist Judy Allen.  Hot coffee and yummy muffins and nut breads were available.  Plant Sitters were in two locations for those whose arms were unable to hold all their purchases while continuing to shop.   Cashiers quickly tallied and made change for the sales and Boy Scouts eagerly carried boxes of plants to customers’  cars which were parked in the lots surrounding the Arena.

The sale began at 9 am.  When the doors closed two and a half hours later, it was apparent the 38th annual sale was a success!  Everyone cheered when it was announced Project GREEN had earned over $32,000.  These proceeds will be used to fund future new projects.

The few plants that remained at the end of the sale were taken by volunteers to be “lined out”.  It was time to begin thinking about and planning for next year’s sale!     

In Project GREEN, we learn by doing.  Whether you have a “green thumb” or a “brown” one, there is a job for you.  Volunteers are needed not only for assistance with the plants, but the Garden Fair also requires a sizable management team which helps with tasks ranging from finance and publicity to container acquisition.  Volunteer here.

For more information, contact Fair Coordinators:  
Tom Koeppel, (319) 351-2014, thomas-koeppel@uiowa.edu
Barb Gartner, (319) 338-5781, barbara-gartner@uiowa.edu
Fern Allison, (319) 338-8580, frdallison@msn.com