By aligning business practices with national strategies and Vermont’s Act 148 Universal Recycling Law for reducing organic waste, American Meadows and High Country Gardens illustrate how organizations can contribute to a circular economy and a healthier planet. These purpose driven brands are taking another step forward in sustainable gardening by donating over 15,000 unsold plants to community organizations. This initiative helps support a healthier planet by reducing methane emissions and leachate production, while fostering community engagement and promoting personal wellness. Communities share their heartwarming stories on how they are doing good through gardening by giving these plants a second chance.

Shelburne, Vermont USA, July 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Meadows and its sister company, High Country Gardens, are driven by their shared purpose of doing good through gardening.  Their commitment to supporting local communities and positively impacting the environment has led to a pledge to divert all organic materials from the waste stream. At the end of each season, unsold plants are donated to community-focused organizations rather than discarded into landfills.

This season, plant donations have supported the creation of new community and memorial gardens, habitat restoration, and educational initiatives. These contributions have benefited approximately two dozen recipients, including urban gardening organizations in Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Taos, Santa Fe, and Salt Lake City. “The continued support we’ve received from High Country Gardens has been instrumental in advancing our Bee Campus goals, helping us to engage our students, faculty, staff, and community members.” Shared Dr. Alejandra Villalobos, UNM-Taos Director of Strategic Initiatives and Research, one of the two dozen plant donation recipients this spring.

“Sending organic materials to landfills creates consequences that are counterproductive to our purpose” states Tabar Gifford, Master Gardener and Partnership Cultivator at American Meadows and High Country Gardens who has been leading this initiative.

When discarded into a landfill, organic materials, such as food scraps, yard waste, and unsold plants from the agricultural and gardening industries decompose anaerobically (without oxygen). This creates methane emissions, a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide according to the Environmental Defense Fund. Additionally, leachate is produced, a liquid that contains harmful chemicals and pollutants, which can seep into groundwater, potentially contaminating drinking water sources and harming ecosystems.

American Meadows Inc. wanted to prevent this negative impact, while also supporting their purpose. Gifford emphasizes “We committed to giving these plants a second chance. Rather than dispose of them, we’ve worked to donate these perishable products to over two dozen organizations and community groups around our greenhouse locations.” This year, both companies were able to find homes for 100% of unsold plants, resulting in over 15,000 plants and bulbs finding their way to new homes. “Bringing communities together while adding beauty and ecological benefits was a big motivator for us."

The benefiting communities and organizations have shared their experiences and how they’ve used these plants:

Tom Kassan, working with the Avon Land Trust in Connecticut, is leading efforts in his town to restore public spaces and shared: “The community is going to benefit from the native plant donation in many ways. Since we created the garden right at the trailhead, anyone who comes to the property to hike or bird watch from the gazebo will be able to enjoy the pretty garden growing alongside Hopefully that inspires others to plant a native garden at their house, or do something similar in a different community.”

Plants donated to the St. Louis Community College’s Meramec Horticulture Program have provided numerous hands-on learning opportunities, enriching the student experience. “Much of our curriculum focuses on native plant horticulture and healthy ecosystems, so the species of natives and nativars that were donated really helped us improve and increase the diversity of our herbaceous perennial collection,” shares Carrie Coyne, Horticulture Program Facilitator.

Sally McCabe, Associate Director of Community Education at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, explains: “Distributing bulbs at the recent Green City Teachers training means new experiences for the participants, who have taken them to as many as 75 school, community, and home gardens.”

Nancy King of Ghost Ranch in New Mexico shared: “This past spring, we embarked on a mission to restore vegetation on the inhabited areas of the ranch to cool and beautify the landscape.  Incorporating High Country Gardens native xeriscape plants has been a critical step in restoring vegetation while responsibly managing water use and ensuring that the plants are sustainable and long-lasting.”

Hannah Whitney of Wasatch Community Gardens (WCG) shared: “The plants and bulbs were used on the WCG’s Campus in Salt Lake City and at a number of community gardens managed by WCG as well as at some school gardens that we support. The donated plants will bring beauty, joy, and pollinators to our gardens!”

Awareness of these environmental challenges has been gaining momentum. Vermont, home to American Meadows and High Country Gardens headquarters, was the first state to pass the Universal Recycling Law (Act 148) which banned all food scraps from the landfill after 2020. In June of 2024, the USDA announced a new national strategy for reducing food loss and waste and recycling organics to reduce organic waste, reduce climate pollution, and ultimately save money for families and businesses alike.

American Meadows Inc. is committed to supporting community-based organizations and programs and is proud to announce achieving zero organic waste disposal this season. The company plans to continue these initiatives, highlighting the impactful work of its partners and community advocates nationwide who promote positive change through gardening. “This is just the beginning,” emphasizes Gifford. Supporting organizations with aligned values and missions, fostering community engagement, and diverting organic waste from landfills are core to the brand values of American Meadows and High Country Gardens.

To see the full stories from the plant recipients, learn about their missions, and see photo updates visit the Doing Good Through Gardening Hub

To learn more about the benefits of meadowscaping: https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/resources/meadowscaping/make-it-better

Learn where to start in your own yard: https://www.americanmeadows.com/content/resources/meadowscaping

Learn how sustainability begins in your backyard: https://www.highcountrygardens.com/content/gardening/sustainable-backyard

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About American Meadows
American Meadows is Doing Good Through Gardening. Their innovative wildflower seed mixes, pre-planned perennial gardens, and lawn alternatives are a go-to for gardeners shopping online. With over 40 years of experience and 650,000 happy customers, they are the authority in meadowscaping.  Visit www.AmericanMeadows.com for more.

About High Country Gardens

High Country Gardens believes Sustainability Begins In Your Backyard. As the leading online provider of waterwise plants and sustainable landscaping solutions, they have been helping communities create beautiful and sustainable outdoor spaces since 1993. Visit https://www.highcountrygardens.com/ for more. 

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Attachments

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society received and distributed over 900 plants from American Meadows to help support their programs throughout Philadelphia. Here a happy recipient is ready to dig in!
• High Country Gardens donated plants for Idaho Botanic Gardens and Plant Select.

Tabar Gifford
American Meadows
ltabar@americanmeadows.com

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