Triscuit Crackers, a 100% whole grain snack, joined non-profit Urban Farming and cities across the USA including Denver, Washington, DC and Minneapolis in declaring yesterday, April 12, ‘Home Farming Day’ to kick off the 2011 planting season and celebrate the idea that everyone, everywhere can grow their own vegetables and herbs. The announcement was made at a ‘Plant-a-thon’in New York City’s Madison Square Park where people could ‘plant and learn’ and join the ‘Home Farming’ movement.

Additionally at the event, Triscuit and non-profit Urban Farming unveiled plans for 65 community-based home farms in 20 U.S. cities in 2011, including five home farms located in urban areas to be grown at low-income housing subsidiaries.

On ‘Home Farming Day’ Triscuit and Urban Farming broke ground on new community-based home farms in Tampa and Los Angeles, demonstrating the breadth of the ‘Home Farming’ movement. Triscuit and Urban Farming will support 65 community-based home farms in 20 U.S. cities in 2011. These farms will supply food for the volunteers who tend them, and excess food will be donated to local food banks.

The ‘Home Farming’ movement celebrates delicious, fresh and simple foods. For some people living in low-income urban areas, however, access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited due to a smaller concentration of available grocery stores (these areas are often referred to as ‘food deserts’).

To help home farmers connect and share experiences, Triscuit created a social network for home farmers called HomeFarming.com. New and well-established home farmers alike can map out farms online, upload photos and post and answer queries in real-time. Other features include crop guides for a variety of food such as cool weather vegetables, leafy greens and herbs.

In another effort to further the movement, the makers of Triscuit attached plantable basil and dill herb seed cards to 8 million boxes of Original and Reduced Fat Triscuit Crackers.