Contact: Rose Getch
National Gardening Association
(800) 538-7476, ext. 129
Rose@garden.org
Su Lok
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
(937) 578-5169
su.lok@scotts.com
South Burlington, VT (August 25, 2006) - With a record-breaking 91 million households participating in lawn and garden activities this year, the National Gardening Association (NGA) and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company are partnering to help even more consumers reap the benefits of gardening.
ScottsMiracle-Gro is a sponsor of the NGA's year-long GROW™ campaign, created to engage the public in all aspects of gardening. This sponsorship includes the NYC GROWS™ Garden Festival, National Garden Month® and other related events throughout the year. These events are a call to action that motivates everyone to get out and plant as a way to beautify backyards and communities. In addition, ScottsMiracle-Gro provides key support for kidsgardening.com, an online resource to help parents find innovative ways to get their children involved in gardening and the outdoors.
″The GROW campaign encourages people of all ages, children through seniors, to get out in the garden. Gardening benefits health, attitudes towards the environment, connections to community and so much more,″ says Mike Metallo, president of NGA. ″The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, an innovator in the consumer lawn and garden industry, is a true partner in growing more gardeners. Together, we hope to continue the upward trend.″
″Not only are Americans gardening in record numbers, but they also are saying that they see direct physical and emotional benefits from going outside and getting their hands dirty,″ says Bruce Butterfield, director of research for the NGA. ″Our research shows that people see gardening as an outlet for their creativity and a way to recharge by reconnecting with nature.″
Gardening has many tangible rewards for people of all ages; it reduces stress, serves as a source of fresh and nutritious foods, and is an enjoyable way to get active. On average, the activity burns between 250 and 500 calories an hour-about the same as brisk walking or light jogging. For children, there's a great deal of research indicating that gardening also helps them achieve higher test scores; connect to the environment; develop social skills; and improve their attention, focus, and self-esteem. With so many apparent benefits, what would help encourage more people to get outside and garden?
″Simplification and ease of use are top priorities for consumers,″ says Rich Sorota, senior vice president and general manager, The Scotts Company. ″By continuing to evolve with consumers' needs and focusing on convenience, effectiveness and environmental stewardship, we make it easy for consumers to achieve success in the garden and experience the physical and emotional benefits associated with gardening.″
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With more than $2.3 billion in worldwide sales and more than 6,000 associates, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts(R), Miracle-Gro(R) and Ortho(R) brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup(R) brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. The Company also owns Smith & Hawken, a leading brand of garden-inspired products that includes pottery, watering equipment, gardening tools, outdoor furniture and live goods. Additionally, the Company owns Morning Song(R), a leading brand in the wild bird food category. In Europe, Scotts' brands include Weedol(R), Pathclear(R), Evergreen(R), Levington(R), Miracle-Gro(R), KB(R), Fertiligene(R) and Substral(R). For additional information, visit www.scotts.com.
About the National Gardening Association
For more than 30 years, the National Gardening Association (NGA) has been working to renew and sustain the essential connection between people, plants, and the environment. As a nonprofit leader in plant-based education, NGA's programs and initiatives highlight and support opportunities for learning in schools, communities, and backyards across the country. In addition, we focus on four other core areas: health and wellness, environmental stewardship, community development, and responsible home gardening. For more information, visit www.garden.org.