The gardening contest we held this season, "What does your garden mean to you?" was a huge success. We asked gardeners to submit a written piece along with photos showing how their vegetable garden makes a positive contribution to their home and family. We were truly amazed at the number of responses and the quality of each garden. It was a most difficult task, but we ultimately awarded five $100 Harris Seeds gift certificates to the grand prize winners. In addition, given the quality of all of the remaining garden entries, we decided to offer each of them a $10 consolation prize. Thank you to all who entered! The Top 5 Winners and excerpts from their entries... #1 Kelly Roller My garden is family. My garden is friendship. My garden is togetherness, teamwork and love... It started with choosing seeds and plants in early spring and is wrapping up with a freezer and pantry full of the bounty of the garden. More important and invaluable than the produce are the relationships that grew in the garden as well. The most important crop in my garden is love. Love grows in my children. It is in their laughter and smiles when they pick a fresh pepper or pumpkin. Read more... #2 Patti Fischer, Tuscarora Community Supported Agriculture Garden Our garden is special because… … it connects us to Mother Earth … it is not feeding one family, but 14 or more families … it is re-establishing community bonds that have broken down over the years … it is bringing back the tradition of fall harvest … it is prompting the younger shareholders to start their own gardens Read more... #3 Barbara Dykes To me, my garden means I am sharing my love of gardening and tasting of the bounty with those that no longer can but still want to be a part of its beauty. One day, I came upon an empty lot behind the Community Nursing and Rehab Center, and I had a revelation. What better way to volunteer then to create a beautiful garden to share with the residents. It’s a labor of love that I share with the residents at the Community Nursing and Rehab Center. Read more... #4 Dee Johnson Because of our gardens my extended family can benefit from eating fresh gourmet vegetables at minimal cost. Even more importantly to me, these gardens provide for some very good times with my three young grandsons. The four-year-old learned how to carefully water tomato transplants and place hot caps. The six-year-old knows how and when to cut okra and the four-year-old can judge when the pea pods, cucumbers and zucchini are mature enough to pick. For two years now the twelve and six-year-olds help me sell vegetables and cut flowers at two local markets. When interviewed by the local newspaper as to why people should buy locally grown produce, the oldest boy replied “because it is more delicious”. Read more... #5 The Seibert Family My G.A.R.D.E.N. God - First and foremost, my garden is a continual reminder to me of God. Abundance - Each time a bucket of tomatoes or a crate of cucumbers is brought inside, I am reminded of the sheer abundance in our lives. Relationships - Family relationships. Community relationships. I look at my garden and see the results of both of these. Dreams - My garden, lush and full and green, is a fulfillment of our family’s dream. Education - We are blessed with 6 wonderful, precious children whom we have chosen to homeschool. What better place to learn than in a garden? Nutrition - Preparing delicious, wholesome foods for my family brings me great satisfaction and my garden helps make that possible. Read more... View all the other contest entries here!