SIMON FULLER Enlarge Image

Riverview resident Getty Stewart is a key organizer for the Plant It Forward campaign.

A Riverview woman is positively blooming as she prepares to see 1,000 flowers planted on March 20 on the banks of the Assiniboine River at The Forks.

Getty Stewart is one of the co-chairs of Plant It Forward, a project that involves planting the flowers to celebrate the first day of spring while also aiming to raise $30,000 for Habitat for Humanity.

But don’t go checking Stewart’s fingers for green spots just yet. All of the flowers will be made from recycled materials ranging from cereal boxes to scrap metal.

The idea blossomed when Stewart gave a horticultural makeover to an area close to the South Osborne underpass.

"It occurred to me that 40,000 cars a day drive over that area, so I started cleaning up a corner and it went from there," Stewart said, noting the success of Plant It Forward is rooted in the community.

"The community response has been tremendous. The spirit that Plant It Forward has generated is amazing, especially when you’re asking people for flowers rather than cash."

Of course, it’s not that donations to the cause are unwelcome. As of March 11, the campaign was more than halfway toward its goal, having raised a total of $16,276.

And as for community contributions, Plant It Forward has seen support from groups and organizations across the city. Contributors include Luxton School in North Point Douglas, employees at Starbucks at Southglen Shopping Centre in St. Vital and visitors to Good Neighbours Active Living Centre in East Kildonan.

"We had a group of 15 to 25 working on their flowers," said Julie Kertesz, an outreach co-ordinator at GNALC.

"It was like a production line. One group was cutting holes in the bottom of pop bottles, while another was cutting wire hangers in half to use as stems. They’re all excited about going to the event at The Forks."

Stewart also noted how flowers can even break down social barriers.

"In terms of demographics such as age, ability and cultural background, none of it matters," she said.
Stewart said the first test planting of flowers was on March 12, with the "biggest push" on March 19 in preparation for a public celebration at The Forks the following day.

Even though the flowers won’t be left in the ground for long, the very sum of their parts leaves them good candidates for relocation.

"They will probably all be taken down on March 21. But various organizations will be able to reuse them, such as the Winnipeg Folk Festival, who will be setting up a family area this year, where children can play while the adults go and watch the entertainment," Stewart said.

Entertainment is big part of Stewart’s motivation for Plant It Forward, as the process provides a change of pace from her day job. Along with her husband, she is co-owner of IBEX Payroll, which is based on Mulvey Avenue.

"This has become a fun, creative outlet for all of us," Stewart said.

For more information, visit www.cleanyourgreen.wordpress.com/

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com