Looking at pictures of the devastation caused by Hurricane Florence is a heart wrenching experience. My immediate response is, “What can I do to help?”
In late 2017, the GCA established a new Restoration Initiative (description of the program here ) to support member clubs directly involved in public landscape restoration and conservation projects in communities devastated by natural disaster. Five clubs received $10,000 grants in 2018 (list here) selected by a committee of GCA leaders and announced at the GCA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
I have no doubt during the next round of applications that the Twin City GC in Winston-Salem, NC and The French Broad River GC in Asheville, NC will submit applications to help needed restoration and conservation projects.
What can we as individuals can do, especially from Denver, Colorado? Perhaps we can buy seeds.
T. Edward Nickens wrote in the Sept. 24, 2018 issue of Garden and Gun magazine about a wild seed farm leveled by Hurricane Florence. (article here ). Garrett Wildflower Seed Farm, owned by Don Lee and family, looked as if it had been steam-rolled after Hurricane Florence passed through. Much of Lee’s farm in Johnston County, North Carolna was leveled. The Lee family’s farm, 1,500 acres, has the quest “to bring back the native grasses and forgotten wildflowers of the South.” While Mr. Lee is putting his energy into salvaging what crop is left, his inventory barns remain intact.
In the spirit of lending a helping hand, I offer this: If you’re in the market for a native wildflower meadow or a pollinator mix, go to garrettseed.com and ask if they can create a seed mix for Colorado. The farm ships quantities from one pound to a truck load.
Helping a Wild Seed Farm in NC After Florence’s Blow
