Habitat for Humanity

In 1999, a partnership was formed between National Garden Clubs, Inc. and Habitat for Humanity with the objective of having garden club members assist Habitat for Humanity homeowners to establish low-maintenance, environmentally friendly gardens.

Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut has raised money to support the landscaping of Habit for Humanity Homes in Connecticut by accepting donations from individuals, garden clubs and by participating in fund raising walk-a-thons.

Some examples of garden clubs whose members, armed with trowels and plants, have landscaped Habitat for Humanity homes include:

• The Long Hill Garden Club planted a tree and landscaped the area surrounding the Juliet Taylor’s Habitat for Humanity Veteran’s Home in Trumbull.
• The Hill and Dale Garden Club has planted window boxes for Habitat homeowners to hang on their porches. The club also provided a pamphlet with plant names and care directions for the happy residents.
• Members of the Lyme Garden Club along with volunteers from York Correctional Institution landscaped Connecticut’s first LEED certified eco-friendly low-income housing. Perennials, shrubs and trees were donated by local garden centers; club members contributed garden tools and books to the owners who expressed excitement about learning to care for the project.
• Ledyard Garden Club members planted more than 350 bulbs around four Habitat for Humanity homes in New London to delight the homeowners in spring.
• Country Gardeners of Glastonbury and Glastonbury Garden Clubs each landscaped a home in Hartford’s Habit for Humanity neighborhood, Swift Village.
• North Haven Garden Club provided landscaping for a Habitat for Humanity home in New Haven.

In addition to designing, purchasing and installing landscaping, members of these garden clubs have provided education for the new homeowners so that the newly landscaped yards will thrive.