President’s Message

“Time for a Cool Change” 

Reducing Plastic Waste

Marlene Hatton, President

As you know, the mission of National Garden Clubs, Inc. is to provide education, resources, and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.

Today’s Garden Clubs are Globally Focused and Locally Grown

With Mary Lou’s and Deanna’s projects we, in GCO, are and have been “Locally Grown”.  The next 2 years I would like us to focus on a couple of global issues; by reducing plastic waste we are improving our environment and water quality, among other things.

It is an enormous task.  Plastic creeps into our lives in so many ways.  It takes over 200 years to degrade. It starts by breaking up into microparticles that are ingested by fish and wildlife. It is carried by the wind and has been found in our soil and in our food.  

You may be thinking what can I do?  I am just one person.  People will look at me funny, my kids will laugh…

But changing just one thing impacts the people around us and the environment. Today I am challenging you personally, your family, your club to adopt 3 changes.  Perhaps using an insulated cup or bottle instead of a water bottle, saying NO to a plastic straw, replace plastic cups and plates with paper or tableware, use rags instead of paper towels, use reusable shopping bags or paper bags, recycling bags and bottles into useful items, the list goes on and on.