CASA of NH’s Annual Plant Stake Project, originally launched in 2003, is a unique recruitment tool that has been successfully spreading the word about CASA’s mission and the need for additional volunteers. Interestingly, a large number of volunteer candidates also enjoy gardening, clearly making this project a natural fit.
Nurseries and garden centers all over the state are contacted in early spring requesting their participation to partner with CASA of NH in this effort. These colorful plant tags feature a smiling child described as “a beautiful and resilient perennial with vigorous growth and spectacular bloom” and a tag line promoting how to grow a happy child. It provides the necessary information to learn more about joining the CASA program as a volunteer.
From Mother’s Day through Memorial Day volunteers across the state helped to deliver and insert 50,000 plant stakes, capturing the peak planting season. One special CASA, Bob Hanselman, took the project to new heights when he traveled 1,360 miles over 3 weeks to hand-deliver plant stakes all across New Hampshire. (See listing of the nurseries Bob and other volunteers traveled to at the end of this article). Bob spent over 60 hours working on the project, meeting with business owners individually, inserting stakes into plants, and raising awareness about the CASA program. In his travels, Bob met many owners who were more than happy to support CASA’s efforts.
Thanks to Bob and all the volunteers and staff members who delivered and inserted the plant stakes, making this the most successful distribution to date- Dottie Aronofsky; Pat Brent; Susan Brown; Denise Burton; Pru Carlson; Jonelle Gaffney; Sam Gray; Jennifer Jeffries; Elaine Petersen;Lynn Photiades; Jeanne and Stan Popielarz; Erica, Kelley and Alyson McArdle; Jenny Sheehan and Gale Stanley.
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CASA GAL, Bob Hanselman pictured with Shane Hays, owner of Moulton Farms in Meredith NH.
The following nurseries were instrumental in making our plant stake project a success. Listed in alphabetical order by their town, please check the list below and make these local nurseries your first stop for all your garden and florist needs. Make sure to tell them that CASA sent you!
Amherst Nursery & Flower Shop: Amherst, NH
Bedford Fields: Bedford, NH
Dixieland Florist & Gift Shop Inc.: Bedford, NH
The Flower Cart: Bedford, NH
Apple Ridge : Boscawen, NH
McSherry's Nursery & Garden Center: Center Conway, NH
Any Blooming Thing: Colebrook, NH
The Blossom Shop: Colebrook, NH
Blue Seal Feeds: Derry, NH
Devriendt's: Goffsftown, NH
Goffstown Ace Hardware: Goffsftown, NH
LaJoie Garden Center: Gorham, NH
Rolling Green Nursery: Greenland, NH
Mill Gardens: Hanover, NH
Emma's Perrenials: Hill, NH
Lull Farm: Hollis, NH
Mr. Bees Flowerland: Hooksett, NH
Country Farms: Hudson, NH
Hill's Florest & Nursery: Intervale, NH
Longacres Nursery: Lebanon, NH
Chalifour's Flowers, Gift & Gourmet Inc: Manchester, NH
Demers Garden Center: Manchester, NH
Farm and Flower Market: Manchester, NH
Jacques Flower Shop: Manchester, NH
Rimmon Heights Florist: Manchester, NH
Cackleberries: Meredith, NH
Dockside Florist Garden Center & Gift Shop/Village Greenery: Meredith, NH
Moulton Farms: Meredith, NH
Depot Farm & Gift Shop: Merrimack, NH
Dirty Worm Greenhouse: New Hampton, NH
JR's Discount: New Hampton, NH
Newton Greenhouse: Newtown, NH
Green Thumb Nursery: North Haverhill, NH
Flowersmiths: Plymouth, NH
Lake St Garden Center: Salem, NH
Walpole Agway: Walpole, NH
House by the Side of the Road: Wilton, NH
Apple Tree Nursery: Winnisquam, NH
Dandelion Florist: Wolfeboro, NH
Railway Farm and Garden: Woodville, NH
