The start of a new school year is within sight and
with it comes all the optimism, energy, and excitement of a fresh start! No
better time to tap this positive energy and get a school garden underway. It
is hard to believe I began this conversation about school gardens in
February. Planning a garden takes time and even more so if it is a school garden, especially when it comes to the “HOW”. It may not be difficult getting volunteer labor and in kind donations but there has to be some funding available. |
| Three Rivers School Garden Layout |
This may be the most challenging obstacle faced. In the big picture of schoolyard improvements,
the garden is probably the most attainable with limited funds. Most,if not all, of the projects I have designed include
a garden area. The garden area is a great place to start because they do not require much
purchased equipment, space or infrastructure.
Here are ways to fund gardens:
·
Funding from the administration
or PTO’s
·
Private Donors
·
Fundraisers/Events
·
Grants
Of all these methods grants are a primary source of
funds. Many grants related to school
gardens open for submission at the beginning of the school year, so this is a
good time and place to start. There is no joy for me, as a landscape architect, designing nature based learning and play environments for children,to not see the designs implemented due to lack of funds. To assist schools and childcare
centers, Naturally Rooted LLC has been compiling a list of funding sources. Here and in the
future, I will post funding opportunities and strategies that could make a
difference in efforts to “bring learning to life in the garden”.
GRANTS TO EXPLORE
Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant
Fall Cycle Open / Closed October 16,2015
http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/hta.html (How to Apply)
Whole Kids Foundation
Opens September
1, 2015 / Closed October 31, 2015
Created
in partnership with FoodCorps (https://foodcorps.org/) , the School Garden Grant program provides a
$2,000 monetary grant to a K-12 school, or a nonprofit working in partnership
with a K-12 school, to support a new or existing edible garden on school
grounds.
Project Learning Tree GreenWorks!
The deadline to
apply is September 30, 2015
PLT offers grants for service learning projects that improve schools or restore natural habitats.
