Garden Organic, the leading charity for organic growing, has teamed up with three GIMA members to bring a new, innovative and exciting initiative that will bring at least 30,000 newcomers into gardening. Last year research showed that the trend for ‘grow your own’ has almost doubled, with 54% of people now choosing to grow food, compared to just 22% two years ago. This trend is set to continue and Garden Organic’s brand new campaign - One Pot Pledge - is set to capitalise on this in 2010. And through the work of GIMA, retailers stand to benefit too. Via the Garden Organic website (www.gardenorganic.org.uk) consumers will be able to register and undertake the pledge of growing at least one pot of something edible at home (or school). Having made the pledge consumers will then be able to access all the cultural instructions they need to grow one of eight suggested crops, specifically selected for pot culture. In the scheme with GIMA members; Suttons Seeds, Stewart Garden and Vital Earth, pledgers will also be able to access a page of money saving coupons against specific products which include seeds, pots and compost, all ideal to help them achieve their pledge.
David Arnold, Sales and Marketing Director at Suttons Seeds based in Torquay said: “Seeds from our Suttons Speedy Veg collection 'Leaf Salad', Carrot 'Ideal', Radish 'Jolly' and Rocket all make perfect partners for growing in pots. Easy to grow and quick maturing they will give every grower success.”
The One Pot Pledge initiative is being launched to GCA Members at their January Conference at the Forest of Arden Hotel and will be launched to the gardening press at the beginning of February. The Garden Organic website which sees over ½ million unique hits every year will promote the campaign heavily and Garden Organic will also be telling its growing e-news subscribers (currently17,000) about the One Pot Pledge, as well as their 40,000 members via their quarterly newsletter circulation.
Dr Margi Lennartsson, Director or Programmes at Garden Organic said: “This campaign is all about getting more of the public growing their own, and in turn developing their interest in sustainable gardening. The One Pot Pledge is going to be at the forefront of our drive to reach the public in 2010 and beyond. This is very much a trial year, but with 30,000 pledges as our minimum target, and with dedicated resources such as an interactive website with offers from participating GIMA members and retailers we believe that in 2011 the promotion will have even more scope to include more products to reach more people.”
Source: GIMA