Schiller Grounds Care and National Gardening Association announce 2012 Mantis Awards winners

Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. — manufacturer of landscape and garden-friendly tools under the brand names of Bob-Cat, Bunton, Classen, Little Wonder, Mantis, Ryan and Steiner — and the National Gardening Association (NGA) announced on May 10 the winners of the 2012 Mantis Awards. The nationally recognized Mantis Awards for Community & Youth Gardens completes its 17th year, having provided nearly 300 community and educational gardening groups with tillers to help establish and maintain their gardens.

Each year, the NGA helps to present the Mantis Awards to charitable and educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. More than 800 applications were received for the 2012 Mantis Awards from school programs, non-profit organizations, and community gardens across the United States with each demonstrating a passion and commitment to teaching the many benefits of gardens.

2012 Mantis Awards winners were selected to receive the Mantis Award based on the creativity of their programs, the innovativeness of their approach, and the long-term sustainability of their plans.

Twenty-five outstanding applicants were selected to receive a Mantis Tiller this year in their choice of gas-powered 2-cycle engine or electric motor valued at $349.

The 2012 Mantis Awards winners were as follows:

Communities in Schools of Forsyth County – Walnut Cove, N.C.
Children’s Attention Home Charter School – Rock Hill, S.C.
Regional Environmental Council of Central MA (REC) – Worcester, Mass.
City of Kingston – Kingston, N.Y.
Growing Together Giving Garden – Phoenix, Ariz.
Urban Ministries of Wake County – Raleigh, N.C.
Tempe Community Action Agency – Tempe, Ariz.
Palos Hills Resource and Rec. Dept. – Palos Hills, Ill.
Public Health Fund Incorporated – Tory, Mo.
Los Angeles County Community Development Foundation – Monterey Park, Calif.
Southern Trinity Joint USD – Bridgeville, Calif.
ECHO Housing Corporation – Evansville, Ind.
Wattles Farm and Neighborhood Gardeners – Los Angeles, Calif.
DeVries Nature Conservancy – Owosso, Mich.
Aroostook Band of Micmacs – Presque Isle, Maine
Full Spectrum Farms, Inc. – Cullowhee, N.C.
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire/Youth Enrichment Services – Sioux Falls, S.D.
Hali’imaile Community Garden – Kahului, Hawaii
Marshall School and Community Garden – Marshall, Ark.
Butte Communities Improvement Association – Arco, Idaho
Dahlonega School/Community Garden – Stilwell, Okla.
Gardendale Elementary Magnet School – Merritt Island, Fla.
Southwest Conservation Corps – Salida, Colo.
Coastal Women for Change – Biloxi, Miss.
Kennesaw State University Research and Service Foundation – Kennesaw, Ga.

Schiller Grounds Care and the National Gardening Association will launch the 18th Mantis Awards season next month with applications accepted from June 2012 until March 1, 2013.

To learn all about the Mantis Awards for Community & Youth Gardens and attain complete application criteria, visit www.garden.org or www.kidsgardening.com.