Make a Difference Day is October 22nd – 15 Ways to Give from the Garden

Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October (October 22nd this year) to encourage acts of generosity and kindness.

Here are my suggestions for how gardeners can Make A Difference on October 22nd and everyday!

Make a Difference to Others:

1. Feed the needy – If you have extra produce, fruit or other edibles in your garden, donate your surplus to a local food pantry.
2. Take flowers to hospitals or senior centers - My brother-in-law's lovely mother, Jeannie Poulos, used to grow roses which she generously shared with neighbors, friends and anyone in need of a little extra beauty. If you have flowers to share, take them to a local hospital or nursing home to share with someone in need of a smile
3. Teach someone to garden – Give a man some food, feed him for a day. Teach a man to garden, feed him for a lifetime. Consider becoming a Master Gardener so that you can teach people to garden.
4. Offer to rake leaves for an elderly neighbor – add the beautiful bounty to your compost pile.
5. Plant a garden to add beauty to the lives of others - Shawna Coronado planted this beautiful garden to share joy with others.
6. Share cuttings, seeds and starter plants with friends and fellow gardeners. Northern Virginia Plant Exchange

Make a difference to the Planet – Learn eco-friendly gardening:

1. Test your knowledge - take our Eco-Friendly Landscaping quiz.
2. Eliminate chemicals from your landscape - eco-friendly options for weed control
3. Create a raised bed garden - Water, fertilizer, compost, mulch, etc. can be applied more carefully
4. Plan and implement a Waterwise landscape - overwatering your landscape is a waste of money and bad for the environment
5. Garden for Wildlife - learn to provide the four basic needs of all wildlife: food, water, shelter and places to raise their young.
6. Remove invasive species - invasive species can destroy an area's natural biodiversity
7. Plant a tree in memory of a loved one - Your Gift of Trees is actually three gifts - one to someone you care for, one to future generations, and one to the environment.
8. Choose an eco-friendly lawn care company - if you don't do your own gardening, pick a landscape company that is eco-friendly.

Make a difference to yourself:

1. Gardening helps you burn calories, it gets you outside in the fresh air and sunshine, and is also good for the soul!

Whatever you do on Make a Difference Day, do it with a grateful heart. Someday you may be the one in need and the seeds of kindness that you plant today will surely come back to you.