One green space at a time

By Emma Peterson. 

Cindy Code shares how Project EverGreen builds healthier and happier communities by connecting people with the natural world. 

In a new episode of From the Ground Up™, Karol Weyman got the chance to speak with Cindy Code, a leading voice in the green industry and the current executive director of Project EverGreen. She shared a bit about who this organization is, saying, “It's a nationwide 501c3 nonprofit that I like to say brings all of the good things about the green industry together.”  

More specifically, Project EverGreen’s mission is to bring the power of green spaces to local communities. Cindy elaborated on what the power of green spaces is, sharing, “Green spaces are a vital part of a local infrastructure. They're more than just nice to have. They're important to the environment, to public health and to connecting communities.” 

Project EverGreen pursues their mission through a variety of initiatives such as: 

• GreenCare for Troops: This is a program specifically for families of deployed military personnel. As it explains on Project EverGreen’s website, this program “connects military families across the nation to complimentary lawn and landscape services. Meanwhile, our sister program, SnowCare for Troops, provides basic snow removal.” 
• GreenCare for Communities: This is an initiative that aims to improve outdoor community spaces, “[GreenCare for Communities] transforms public green spaces, making communities healthier and more sustainable. Since 2008, it has restored nearly 200 million square feet of grass, providing cleaner air for 320,000 people every day.” 

At the end of the day, they really act as a bridge between those within the outdoor industry and those beyond it. Cindy explained, “A lot of people want to make a difference in the park or community green space, but they can't do it alone. So that's where Project Evergreen comes in, we help foster collaboration between donors or grantors and local businesses and professional volunteers.” 

Listen to the whole conversation between Karol and Cindy to learn more about Project EverGreen.