challenge!

I've always been a competitive person. Years ago when I worked at a daycare I would challenge the 5 year olds to occasional nail-biting games of candy land. Sometimes I won and sometimes I didn't. I will not confirm or deny stacking the deck so to draw Queen Frosteen and the little one's to draw Plumpy therefore having to go
back to the starting line. Like I said, I am very competitive.

Now that spring is almost here and veggie gardening is on my mind, I thought I'd see if any of you blog readers would be up for a friendly competition.  This will be a great little incentive for anyone who wants to start a vegetable garden but just hasn't gotten around to it. It is also a great way for beginners to get their feet wet!

Before I get into the details I want everyone to know that in order to participate, they do not need a huge yard. All you need is a 3x3 foot plot of dirt or at the very least a 5 gallon flower pot (which you can find very cheaply at the local walmart or garden store) and a sunny spot on a patio or by a window. Yes, you can even do this indoors.

Green Thumb Contest !!!!!(haven't come up with a more catchy name yet-happy to hear suggestions) 

It will then be your challenge to try to grow the 1.) largest quantity of zucchini in pounds 2.) the largest single zucchini in pounds and 3.) be the person who comes up with the most unique way to cook and eat thier harvest by July 30th, 2011.  If you would like to participate in this contest, I will supply you the seeds so that everyone has the same platform to start from and everyone must plant thier seeds on the same day. No cheating, this isn't candy land..

The reason I picked zucchini is because it is a very versatile and easy to grow vegetable, it produces well and there are so many ways you can cook it.  I am trying to make this as easy as possible to encourage folks to supplement their diets with good, healthy homegrown food. I am going to do a little research and find a good hearty variety of zucchini. There are all different kinds but I will be looking for a compact (will take up less space) variety that will be well suited for various soils and conditions.  If you absolutely hate zucchini, this may not be the contest for you.

I am still working out the details but everyone that wants to participate will receive the same amount of seeds to start at home. I will mail the seeds (or drop them off if you are local) free of charge. All you have to do is nurture your zucchini and keep track of the total pounds you harvest from your plant. You do need to already have a digital bathroom scale or kitchen scale in order to accurately weigh your zucs. You can do whatever you want in order to get your zucchini to grow. You can fertilize them, sing to them, heck, go ahead and cast magic spells on them if you want. As far as strategy, anything goes. You will just have to choose one plant for the challenge. If you only have the space for one zucchini plant, you can pick out the biggest, healthiest looking of your seedlings and toss the others, or give them away to friends (which is what I would recommend). If you do have room for the others, by all means plant them, nurture them and eat them but you can only use one plant for the competition-the others don't count.


The three winners will receive a basket of homemade beeswax bath and body products or a gardening book and the full glory of being a champion courtesy of yours truly!

I have no idea how many people will be interested in participating in this fun little challenge and since I am cheap and don't want to have to buy truckloads of seeds, so I have to cover my butt and  limit the challenge to ten people.  If you are interested, you have to leave a comment below with your email address so that I can contact you regarding details/rules and arrange for you to get your seeds. First come, first serve, but  anyone that lives here in the US can enter, Even clowns. Even if I don't know you and you secretly follow my blog. Even if you are my Mom. Anyone. If you happen to read my blog and aren't in the US I might be shocked adn amazed enough that you actually read or found my blog to let you enter so you should comment too. I'll give everyone until March 18th to get your comment in and enter the contest. Let me know if you have questions!