Mission and Purpose
“Inspire. Connect. Grow.” National Garden Bureau is a non-profit organization that exists to educate, inspire, and motivate people to increase the use of plants in homes, gardens, and workplaces by being the marketing arm of the gardening industry. Our members are experts in the field of horticulture and our information comes directly from these sources.
History
The inspiration of James H. Burdett, the National Garden Bureau was born in 1920 in the wake of World War I. He perceived the increasing need of suburbanites for basic instruction in backyard gardening. Because of his unique background as both a former newspaper journalist and an advertising manager of a seed company, he appreciated the role of the media in public education. He pioneered the idea of enlisting horticultural writers and broadcasters in the noble effort of mass education to create a population of gardeners. In the process, he improved the lives of citizens.
The Bureau came of age during World War II when the government encouraged homeowners to grow Victory Gardens. By means of annual posters promoting “Beauty and Abundance in Your Garden” and other materials, the Bureau promoted seeds and gardening on the home front. Then, the postwar years saw an emphasis on community beautification and the Bureau responded with a film, brochures, programs, and information sheets to help gardening communicators further this cause among the public. Incorporation as a not-for-profit organization soon followed.
Board of Directors
The NGB has a Board of Directors composed of eight to twelve regular members. Members serve for a period of three years with the option to serve a second three-year term. The Board makes all necessary rules and regulations consistent with law, the Articles of Incorporation, and By-Laws, for the conduct of the affairs of this organization and the guidance of its officers and employees.
President – Tim Hodson, Great American Publishing
Vice President – Nicholas Pucci, Seminis Home Garden
Past President – Heather Kibble, Sakata Seed America
Treasurer – Claire Josephson, Ball Horticultural Co.
Director – Rebecca Lusk, The Dummen Group
Director – Jeanne Svob, Griffin
Director – Marissa Verdi, Harris Seeds/GardenTrends
Director – Ryan McEnaney, Bailey Nurseries
Director – Mike Lizotte, American Meadows
Director – Jeannine Bogard, Syngenta Flowers, Inc.
Executive Director – Diane Blazek, National Garden Bureau
