The work of turning Minot's flood-damaged yards green again is off to a great start.
Planting Hope's distribution day was held Saturday, and organizers from The Minot Rotary club and volunteers gathered to give away 2,400 bags of grass seed.
Saturday was a busy day, with drivers waiting in long lines of vehicles to receive their 20-pound bags of grass seed. The blend of seed was specially mixed to grow well in North Dakota's climate, and came with instructions for preparing the site and lawn care.
The idea behind the Rotary project is to help area residents put their lawns back in shape after the devastating Souris River flood of 2011. No one expects residents receiving the free seed to be made whole by the project, but every little bit of help matters to flood victims. The money they don't have to spend on buying grass seed can now be used for something else needed to continue the recovery from the flood. Plus, organizers said any leftover seed will be donated to Minot parks.
The project was a huge success, and everyone involved deserves a hearty thank you. It took time, effort, money and a host of volunteers to help the project succeed. Residents receiving the free seed no doubt were thankful, and the project's results will soon be easy to see as the lawns of Minot return to a state of green.