1. SEEDS FOR HOPE: MASTER GARDENERS’ PASSION FOR
GARDENING PROVIDES SUPPORT TO CANCER PATIENTS
Flahive DiNardo, M.*1, Gornowski, J. 2 Schroeder, S. 2
1. Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, Westfield, NJ, 07090
2. Master Gardener, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, Westfield, NJ 07090
Methods
• The first flower cutting garden was established in the Union County Master
Gardeners’ demonstration garden in 2007. A second garden was planted in the
fall of 2009, featuring pink tulips for spring bouquets.
• The first bouquets were arranged by Master Gardeners and donated to the Carol
G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital, Summit, NJ and the Wellness
Community of Central Jersey.
• “Seeds for Hope” was established as a 501c(3) non-profit organization to assist
groups with the development and ongoing support of flower cutting gardens.
The first flower cutting garden was installed and planted by Master
Gardeners at their demonstration garden located in the Union County
Abstract park Trailside in the Watchung Reservation.
Master Gardeners in Union County, NJ in conjunction with Seeds for Hope, a non-profit
organization, provide fresh cut flower bouquets to cancer patients and their caregivers by
networking with agencies and cancer outpatient treatment centers. Since 2007, Master
Gardeners have grown and arranged into bouquets over 9,600 flowers and greens. Most
of the flowers are grown in the Master Gardeners’ demonstration garden; others are
donated from personal gardens of Master Gardeners and Seeds for Hope. The flower
arrangements are given to agencies such as the Wellness Community of Central Jersey
for events such as the Latino Women’s Conference. Bouquets are also donated to
fundraising events for the NJ Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and Susan G. Komen
Impacts
Foundation. The flower arrangements are also enjoyed by patients and their caregivers
at the Summit, NJ Overlook Hospital Oncology reception area. Seeds for Hope and the  9,600 fresh cut flowers and greens have
Master Gardeners of Union County wish to have Master Gardeners nationwide been arranged into bouquets for cancer
participate in this program. They can provide advice on recruiting volunteers, selecting a patients.
flower cutting garden site, flower and green recommendations, garden maintenance,
securing vase donations and networking with local cancer societies and Oncology
departments.
 95% of the flowers are grown by Master
Gardeners in their demonstration garden
or personal gardens.
 The number of agencies served by this
project increased by 50%. New agencies
served include the Susan G. Komen
Foundation of North Jersey and the
Introduction and Objectives Master Gardeners and Seeds for Hope volunteers create beautiful
Emmanual Cancer Foundation of New
Jersey.
flower arrangements. Seeds for Hope provides funding for vases
and flowers during the dormant season.
Sandi Schroeder and Joanne Gornowski met through the
Master Gardener program. Having both lost loved ones to
cancer, they have a strong desire to reach out to cancer
patients and their families. They started “Seeds for Hope”
as a Master Gardener project.
The objectives were to:
 Establish cut flower gardens Get Involved
 Harvest flowers for bouquets Seeds for Hope can provide the following support to help
start and maintain flower bouquet donation projects:
 Arrange flowers into bouquets
 Advice on recruiting volunteers for growing and
 Donate bouquets to agencies serving cancer patients arranging flowers
 Assist other Master Gardener and community  Selecting and getting approval for a cut flower garden
organizations with starting a cut flower bouquet site
donation program for cancer patients.
 Installing and maintaining a fresh cut flower garden
 Networking with local oncology departments and cancer
organizations to distribute the flower bouquets.
For more information visit the Seeds for Hope website at
Seeds for Hope Founders, Master Gardeners www.seedsforhopeinc.org. We look forward to helping your organization start a flower bouquet
Joanne Gornowski and Sandi Schroeder donation program.