Sow the seeds of love this Valentine's Day

ChildFund is encouraging New Zealanders to reconsider the traditional Valentine’s Day bouquet, and sow the seeds of love instead with a gift of vegetable seeds to a family in the developing world.

ChildFund Chief Executive Paul Brown says a humble packet of seeds gifted to a family in need represents so much more to loved-ones than an expensive bunch of roses.

“While those roses will wilt within the week, seeds are a more enduring sign of your love that will grow into a whole vegetable garden to help nourish children.”

A single packet of seeds for $16 can yield up to 640 plants, depending on the vegetable (options include tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, lettuce, mustard, water spinach, cauliflower or chilli).

“The home garden made possible through the gift of seeds will provide an on-going cycle of support to communities in need, with food to help children suffering from chronic malnutrition, surplus vegetables to sell for much needed income and a continuous supply of seeds for the next planting seasons.”

Purchasers receive a special gift card explaining the gift and how it will benefit the recipient, and also get a ‘gift back’ via a full tax credit.

To order ChildFund Gifts That Grow visit www.childfund.org.nz or call 0800 223 111.