As part of promoting and supporting food security, the Agricultural Advisory Committee runs an annual Food Garden Contest, with the 2022 theme of ‘Plant your Plate’. Participants are judged on the quality and range of food grown, the health of the plants, gardening practices and garden design. Judging will be done in late summer by photo submission.
All types and sizes of edible gardens are eligible to enter, including (but not limited to): containers, raised beds, in ground, or otherwise!
The 2022 Food Garden Contest will be receiving entries starting on April 8, 2022.
Enter yourself or nominate a neighbour by the June 6, 2022 deadline. The first 150 gardeners who enter can pick up either one free bag of soil compliments of Triple Tree Nurseryland or Grow & Gather in Maple Ridge (from April 8 – May 9) OR one free bag of compost (mushroom manure) compliments of the Laity Farm Plant Sale (starting April 21, at 21145 128 Avenue). Please note that either soil or compost will be provided on a first come, first serve basis (supplies are limited at each location), and participants are eligible for one bag only.
Here’s how to enter:
- Take a “before” photo of your garden.
- Send an email with the subject line "Food Garden Contest 2022" to gardencontest@mapleridge.ca with:
- The "before" photo (one to two only).
- Your name, address, phone number, and email address
You will receive an email confirming contest entry that can be used to pick up your one free bag of soil from either Grow and Gather or Triple Tree Nurseryland in Maple Ridge, OR one free bag of compost from the Laity Farm Plant Sale (please note participants are eligible for one bag only).
Judging will be done in late summer by way of photo submission. We ask that you take pictures of your garden throughout the growing season, in bloom, or as you see fit, to showcase the criteria mentioned above (quality of food grown, the health of the plants, gardening practices and garden design).
We will accept up to five (during or after) photos of your garden, as a submission for the judging. Deadline for the five-photo submission will be August 31, 2022. You can also submit a 150-word description (max) of your experience along with the photos; however, this description is completely optional.
Grand Prize Winners will be contacted after judging is complete.
Prize donations from our sponsors:
Final prizes will include items or gift certificates for local businesses, including Grow and Gather in Maple Ridge.
Important dates:
- April 8, 2022: Contest Opens
- June 6, 2022: Deadline to Enter
- August 31, 2022: Deadline for Final Photo Submissions
- April 8 to May 9: Soil Pick-up from either Grow and Gather or Triple Tree Nurseryland
- April 21 onward: Compost Pick-up from Laity Farm Plant Sale
For more information and helpful links, please visit https://www.mapleridge.ca/1884