At home briefs

PHOTO CONTEST


Like mother, like daughter? We'd like to see just how strong family resemblance can be. As part of our Mother's Day coverage, we invite readers to send in photos of your look-alike moms and daughters. We'll choose who we think is the closest pair, award a $50 gift certificate for something fun they can share, and print as many of the other duos as possible. Please send photos to At Home editor Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll: prints c/o Cape Cod Times, 319 Main St., Hyannis, MA 02601; or high-resolution jpeg attachments by e-mail to kdriscoll@capecodonline.com. Deadline: Wednesday, April 22.

GROW YOUR OWN

Roberta Clark, educator with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, will give a free lecture on growing your own vegetables on the Cape — including site selection, soil improvement and needs of different crops — at 3 p.m. March 30 at Wellfleet Public Library. Registration deadline is Thursday: 508-375-6697.

SEED SALES GROW


Recession? Not for companies that sell vegetable seeds. Americans are buying vegetable seeds and starter plants in record numbers, according to a survey of garden catalog and Web site companies. Sales of vegetable seeds are up from 28 to 60 percent from 2008 at such companies as Mailorder Gardening Association (www.mailordergardening.com), Harris Seeds (www.harrisseeds.com) and Wood Prairie Farm (www.woodprairie.com). "We're shipping seeds as fast as we can," says Jim Gerritsen, co-owner of Maine-based Wood Prairie Farm.

The popularity of growing vegetables isn't limited to backyards. First lady Michelle Obama Friday broke ground on the South Lawn for a garden that will supply vegetables, fruit and herbs for the White House kitchen. The last time the 18-plus-acre lawn was used for vegetable gardening was during the 1940s, when first lady Eleanor Roosevelt started a home-gardening movement that helped feed the nation during World War II.

GREEN KITCHEN

How to make your kitchen or bath remodel environmentally friendly is the topic of the latest workshop at 'g' Green Design Center in Mashpee Commons on Route 151. The workshop — on topics such as color schemes, layout and selection of appliances and materials — will be from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday. Cost is $25 per household (one or two people); participants are encouraged to bring plans and photos.