Oct 16, 2009

Bonnie Plants Sponsors School Growing ProgramSource: Bonnie Plants

A national cabbage-growing program sponsored by Bonnie Plants aims to make learning fun and engaging. It provides third-grade students across the country lessons on plants, patience and perseverance as they attempt to grow the biggest cabbage in their state. The program offers each student a free Bonnie O.S. Cross, an oversized cabbage plant that can grow bigger than a basketball and weigh up to 50 pounds, to cultivate, nurture and grow.

At the end of the season, teachers from each class select the student who has grown the best cabbage, based on size and appearance, and submits it to Bonnie Plants. That student is entered to receive a $1,000 scholarship, to be awarded at random by the respective state’s Commission of Agriculture. Last year, 2 million students participated in 45 states.

“Because we believe so deeply in the joy and peace gardening can bring to the soul, we want to afford the opportunity to children to experience this same joy and sense of accomplishment,” said Dennis Thomas of Bonnie Plants.

These budding green thumbs can pay off, offering participating children with pride, a humongous cabbage and, for the lucky winner from each state, the beginning of an educational fund for college. To see the 2009 winners and learn more about the 2010 contest, visit Bonnie Plants’ website.