KGI founder wins "Heart of Green" award
KGI founder, Roger Doiron, now has a green heart to match his green thumb. Last Thursday, he received the Heart of Green "Ground Breaker" award for his work in promoting healthy kitchen gardens and in successfully encouraging the Obamas to replant one at the White House.
The Heart of Green Awards recognize individuals and organizations that help green go mainstream -- taking it to the heart of the American people. Other winners included Frances Beinecke, president of Natural Resources Defense Council; Deidre Imus, founder of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology; author, model and designer Summer Rayne Oakes; actresses Alicia Silverstone and Gloria Reuben; model and television host Maria Menounos; Greg Perry, who is developing the "Ultimate Green Classroom" with his class; Jennifer Canty, owner of the electronics refurbishing business Dyscern; as well as Planet Green and New York City.
Organized by Hearst Media's TheDailyGreen.com and sponsored by eBay's Green Team, the star-studded ceremony took place at the LEED gold-certified Hearst Tower in New York City.
See photos from the event here
Watch the other acceptance speeches here
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Background info from TheDailyGreen.com:
Roger Doiron is the Heart of Green's "Ground Breaker" Honoree for 2009
Who is the voice for the backyard gardening movement? Who reminds us of the simple pleasures and enduring wisdom of harvesting our own food? Who relentlessly asks the commonsense question: Why does the White House have 18 acres of grass, and no vegetable garden?
Roger Doiron isn’t alone, but his voice – as the founder of Kitchen Gardeners International and the Eat the View campaign – has been loud, clear and influential. The Downeast, Maine, resident has simple aims (inspire and encourage more home gardening) and sophisticated methods. Who else thought to auction off one-square-foot plots of White House lawn on eBay to raise money and awareness for Eat the View, the campaign pressuring President Obama to plant an organic garden within walking distance of the Oval Office? The same guy who grew a 10,000-member-strong organization in the space of just five years.
We love Doiron’s populist foodie vision. The KGI website answers the question, "What Is a Kitchen Gardener?" In part: "Unlike mere foodies who flit from one trendy spot to another in search of instant culinary gratification, Kitchen Gardeners set out roots in a place and begin planning their pleasure months in advance." For reminding us all how easy and good it is to grow our own food, Roger Doiron is a 2009 Heart of Green award winner.
