Project Orange Thumb

Project Orange Thumb
Sowing the Seeds of Community Change

Did you know about the community garden movement? People all over the country are turning to community gardens to help save money, eat healthier and build a sense of togetherness through gardening. As a leader in the lawn and garden industry, Fiskars believes in contributing to the growing community garden effort and all it represents — creative expression, beautiful outdoor spaces, civic and community collaboration, healthy hand-grown food and sustainable living.

To help support the community garden movement, we’ve created Project Orange Thumb. Since its inception, Fiskars’ Project Orange Thumb has provided over $1.3 million to 140 community groups and helped to complete fourteen garden makeovers in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more about our grants and garden makeovers, or apply for your own grant or makeover.

2013 Grant Recipients Announced

2013 Grant Recipients List

The 2013 Grant Recipients have been picked!

Click here to view the list »

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Download Extended Deadline Terms & Conditions PDF »

Important dates

  • Applications open: Monday, October 1, 2012
  • Application submission deadline: Monday, December 31, 2012
  • Announcement of 2013 grant and garden makeover recipients: Friday, February 1, 2013
  • Distribution of 10 grants: Friday, March 29, 2013
  • Makeover Location/Date Announced: April, 2013
Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now?

Next up in our 'Where Are They Now?' series of past Project Orange Thumb gardens that have received makeovers is The Growing Together School and Community Garden Today in Madison, Wisconsin and Ama Vera’s Garden (formerly Linden Neighborhood Garden) of Columbus, Ohio. Check out the updates from these community gardens to see how Project Orange Thumb is bringing communities and neighborhoods together with gardening.

The Community Garden Movement

The Community Garden Movement

Did you know about the community garden movement? People all over the country are turning to community gardens to help save money, eat healthier and build a sense of togetherness through gardening. Check out the below facts to see how the community garden movement is gaining momentum.

  • According to the National Community Garden Association, there are currently more than 20,000 community gardens in the U.S., up from only 6,020 in 1996
  • In 2009, more than 41 million U.S. households grew a vegetable garden, more than 19.5 million households grew an herb garden, and 16.5 million households grew fruit

Primary reasons given by households for growing their own food include better-tasting food (58%), savings on food bills (54%), better-quality food (51%) and peace of mind about the safety of their food (48%)

2012 Recipients

Garden Makeovers

Fiskars expanded Project Orange Thumb in 2008 to include hands-on garden makeovers. Working closely with neighbors, business leaders, volunteers and community partners, we roll up our sleeves and transform barren lots into beautiful, productive community gathering spaces — all in a single day. Historically, the locations of our garden makeovers have been selected separately from the grant process. This year, we're giving you the chance to apply for a garden makeover in your area!

Albert Park Centennial Garden, Calgary, AB

Rockaway Hip Hop Community Garden, Far Rockaway, NY

Oliver Neighborhood, Baltimore, MD

Growing Together School and Community Garden, Madison, WI

North Brentwood Community, Portland, OR

Altgeld Gardens, Chicago, IL

Linden Neighborhood, Columbus, OH

Goettingen Neighborhood, San Francisco, CA

Grandview-Woodland Neighborhood, Vancouver, BC

The Willows,
Orlando, FL

Scarborough Village, Toronto, ON

Edgewood Community, Atlanta, GA

Lees Avenue Community Garden, Ottawa, ON

    
2012 Recipients

2012 Recipients

Grant Gardens

The Explorers Urban Garden Project
Prince George, British Columbia
The Exploration Place Museum

Cook Community Garden
Colingwood, Ontario
Free Spirit Garden

Common Ground Community Garden
Kinston, North Carolina
Common Ground Enc

Harmony Community Garden
North St. Paul, Minnesota
Independent School District N. St. Paul

Rincon Mountain Garden
Tucson, Arizona
Community Gardens of Tucson

Pine Tree Lane
Hermiston, Oregon
Umatilla - Morrow Head Start, Inc.

Scotlandville Gardens Park
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Scotlandville Community Development Corporation

Light of Christ Community Garden
Federal Way, Washington
Light Of Christ

Tibbs Garden
Indianapolis, Indiana
Noble of Indiana

Carbondale Community College
Carbondale, Colorado
Local Municipality
East Side Community Garden

2012 Grant Makeover Garden

East Side Community Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Green Space Alliance

On Wednesday, August 15, 2012 nearly 80 volunteers from Fiskars, The Home Depot, Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, and the Eastern San Antonio community braved the Texas heat to install the new East Side Neighborhood Garden on land owned by the San Antonio Housing Authority.

Read more »

See How Project Orange Thumb Has Made a Difference

See How Project Orange Thumb Has Made a Difference

Project Orange Thumb grants and garden makeovers have helped support community gardening all over the United States and Canada. Check out our map to find out more about each Project Orange Thumb's garden and makeovers.

See the map »