Ontario gardening campaign adding additional seed gift certificates for Ottawa area residents

A provincial gardening initiative aiming to grow 2,000 lbs of produce for those experiencing food insecurity is proving popular in the capital region. 

The project called 'SEEDit' asks budding gardeners to plant, grow and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables, and distribute them to local community members or food banks. 

The pay-it-forward program, funded by Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, has already provided 2,000 families in the province with $50 gift certificates at no cost to them, to purchase the seeds they need.

After registration for the campaign opened on April 29, most of the $50 gift certificates in the province sold out, but an additional 100 garden centre vouchers have since been issued for Manotick Gardens & Landscaping Supplies, as Ottawa-area retailers sold out quickly. 

SEEDit participant Amanda Rossignol tells CityNews her 12-year-old daughter is “so excited to be doing this program”. Rossignol went on to say that her daughter is even going to take it a step further and purchase some additional plants with her own money, which she plans on donating a portion of to the local community. 

Almost two dozen garden stores in Ontario are participating in the program, including five centres in the Ottawa area:

• Denise & Sylvain Garden Centre, Embrun    
• Les Serres Legault, Hawkesbury    
• Manotick Gardens & Landscaping Supplies, Manotick
• Les Serres Robert Plante Greenhouses Inc., Navan    
• Les Serres Quenneville, Plantagenet

President and CEO of The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group, Tim Shauf said, “We think a great way to support our communities in these difficult times by providing both the joy of gardening and the ability to share fresh, healthy produce to support local food security programs.” 

Ottawa area residents can register for their $50 SEEDit certificates through the Commonwell's website, while supplies last. 

“We know that Ontarians have decades of proven and practical backyard agricultural advice,” added Shauf. “We want everyone to spill their best secrets so that SEEDit can hit our 2,000 pounds of produce goal and beyond.”

Additional gift certificates are also being issued in the Peterborough area, as that location sold out quickly as well.