Nominations open for GARDENA Gardener of the Year

Nominations open for New Zealand’s 2015 GARDENA Gardener of the Year

Green fingers big or small, who’s the best of them all?

NZ Gardener has today launched its 2015 GARDENA Gardener of the Year Awards, looking for Kiwi gardening superheroes doing amazing work in their garden and community.

In its ninth year, the awards recognise inspirational Kiwis who demonstrate a passion for plants and make an outstanding contribution to communities, schools and our regions.

“We’re looking for community leaders, inspirational mentors, the driving force behind a vege-growing food bank – or someone who is beautifying their town or restoring wasteland,” says NZ Gardener editor Jo McCarroll.

“Basically if a gardener has inspired you, let us know because we want to hear the great story. You can nominate your horticultural superhero on our website, nzgardener.co.nz, or check out the July issue for details on how to enter.”

A panel of judges led by NZ Gardener editor Jo McCarroll, and including deputy editor Christine Rush, staff writer Barbara Smith and digital editor Rachel Oldham, along with a selection of the magazine’s expert contributors, will select the five nationwide finalists.

“We received so many inspiring entries last year and want to celebrate the efforts of those contributing to communities throughout New Zealand. St Anthony’s School philosophy of ‘sharing through gardening’ made them a finalist last year. The school kids’ enthusiasm was clear, delivering flowers from their garden to local rest homes and donating vegetables and seedlings to the local food bank.

“Another finalist, Michael Matthews’ story was heartening because even though he was unwell, he wanted to improve the health of his community and continued to grow vegetables on a large scale to donate to struggling locals,” says Jo.

This year’s finalists will be unveiled in the October 2015 issue, and voting opens to the public to choose the supreme winner who will be announced in the December 2015 issue.

The five finalists will each receive a GARDENA gardening pack valued at $300 and $250 worth of product from Aorangi Bulbs, Victa, Burnets Horticulture, King Seeds, Mitre 10 and Skellerup Industries.

The supreme winner will feature in the December issue of NZ Gardener, receive a GARDENA gardening pack worth $600 and $1000 worth of Resene paint.

Nominations open 29 June and close on 30 August 2015.

Ends

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