Organic promoters seek entries for gardening contest

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Organic gardeners throughout the United States will have the opportunity to compete for prizes including a Bitcoin, a new electric vehicle and a small farm in the first-ever Johnny Appleseed Organic Invitational. The launch date Sunday coincided with the birthday of John Chapman, the real-life American frontiersman who inspired the Johnny Appleseed legend. The contest is presented in partnership with Mother Earth News, a magazine owned by Ogden Publications, Inc., which also owns The Advertiser-Tribune and its sister papers. Video entries will be accepted through Nov. 30 with finalists selected in December, and the competition is set to take place during the 2022 growing season. A news release promoting the contest said the it is intended to showcase the skills of the nation's top organic growers and provide a platform for them to share their knowledge. "Everyone acknowledges that organic food is healthier and better tasting, but there's a pervasive myth that truly sustainable growing practices can't produce an abundant enough yield to feed American families," said Jeff Meyer, founder of Johnny Appleseed Organic, a green technology company focused on creating sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional farm and garden products. "The Johnny Appleseed Organic Invitational will prove that we can provide for everyone while producing food in a responsible, ecologically friendly manner." Growers selected for the competition will be among the most talented and experienced gardeners in the country and will compete from home as permitted by their local growing season, the release states. It is free to enter the contest and no purchase is required. Contestants will receive points for their placement in each competitive category, with a cumulative winner determined at the end of the contest. Categories include: Heaviest tomato (as determined by certified scale) Hottest pepper (Scoville scale) Most beautiful flower arrangement in a 65-gallon grow bag (determined by social voting) Heaviest sweet potato in a 65-gallon grow bag (as determined by certified scale) Heaviest squash (any variety, as determined by certified scale) Best organic gardening "hack" (determined by social voting) Each competitor chosen for the invitational will receive $1,000 in cryptocurrency, and the overall cumulative winner will receive a choice of grand prize options including one Bitcoin, a brand-new Ford F-150 EV, a Kubota tractor with attachments or a restricted deed for a small farm at the Johnny Appleseed Organic Village, a sustainable living development nestled within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge near Folkston, Georgia. A live leaderboard will run throughout the competition, the release said, and will feature multimedia content from the contestants, including tips and tricks for other home gardeners following the competition. Leaderboards also will be updated on JohnnyAppleseed.com and MotherEarthNews.com. Since 1970, Mother Earth News has embraced the back-to-the land movement, concentrating on sustainable living topics such as organic gardening, do-it-yourself projects, renewable energy, green home building, natural health and food preservation through its magazine, website, podcasts, live events and online learning. To learn more about the organic gardening competition or submit an entry, visit JohnnyAppleseed.com/Invitational. Editor's note: If anyone in or near Seneca County enters the contest, please contact Vicki Johnson at vjohnson@advertiser-tribune.com.