NASHUA – Grow Nashua, a local urban gardening and education group, is encouraging Nashua to “imagine sunflowers everywhere” to show support for Ukrainians living in turmoil.

The idea formed after several different community members approached the group wanting to take an action. A school proposed to grow sunflowers, a community gardener wanted to encourage many others to do the same, and a team member heard from a relative in Ukraine who asked “As the war drags on, please don’t forget us.” The result was the Grow Nashua Sunflower Project. Director Justin Munroe explained, “We can’t stop the war in Ukraine, but engaging and growing with our neighbors is where we thrive. If we could spread seeds through our network, what a powerful way to show the unity in many voices by having sunflowers planted everywhere in our city. The goal is to fill Nashua with sunflowers as a visual reminder of the situation in Ukraine and of our community’s support of Ukrainians.”

Several hundred Nashua residents already have planted their sunflowers and many others have distributed them to friends, colleagues and neighbors. Amherst Street School recently participated in the Sunflower Project by having a school-wide sunflower growing challenge in the month of April. Classrooms and staff started with two sunflower seeds to plant. In May, the plants were planted by students outside on the playground as a symbol of kindness and peace for all the world.

Seeds are being given for free by Grow Nashua. Munroe says now is a perfect time to plant for August and September blooms. Those who would like to participate may sign up to receive seeds at www.grownashua.org/sunflowerproject or on the group’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/grownashua. Participants are encouraged to share a photo of their sunflower with a blue or yellow ribbon attached. Grow Nashua also has a digital map where growers can post their sunflower location.

Grow Nashua connects and cares for community by providing a wide range of services that bring people together around gardening and fresh food, including free urban garden plots for lower-income people, educational school programs, Curbside Compost, and Little Free Farmstands, which distribute free fresh vegetables. More information can be found at www.grownashua.org.

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