i am looking to create a grant list for community gardeners in my area. does anyone know of a good resource for this???
thanks.

I need info ,too! posted similarly but was deleted so vite, vite!

Me, too!

Here is a link that might be useful: Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

I have just (via the magazine article I referred to in my post dated today) learned of the American Community Gardening Association. They have a website, but I have not been able to access it. Perhaps they have shut it down over this holiday weekend. I am anxious to see what they might have to offer. I will try again Monday, but meantime, the site is linked below. CK

Here is a link that might be useful: American Community Gardening Association

I am interested in starting a gardening program with the schools in Los Angeles. It would be great to teach the kids about organic gardening, the relationship it has with healthy eating, and improving the eco-system of our environment. It's a big project...any master gardeners out there interested?

I was in the process of searching the current forums for any experiences anyone has had utilizing the community garden concept.

I am involved in a town beautification project which is being sponsored by the local Chamber Of Commerce in our small Northeast Historic town. Our goal is to utilize all those "forgotten" islands, and roadside nooks and crannys left by the town, and replace these spaces with a beautiful well planned space.

We are still in the planning stages however, our concept is pretty simple. Matching an "orphaned" piece of land (both town & state owned) with a local business wishing to "adopt" that space. Similar to the adopt-a -highway programs we all are familiar with seeing the signs along the highways.

The payoff to the business is great exposure while giving back to the community. The payoff to the Chamber of Commerce is to promote a healthy arena for member contractors to do business. Designing, planting, and maintaining the "orphaned space" would be the financial responsibility of the adopting business as part of the agreement to have appropriate signage featured in that area.

So far the response from the business community has been great. It certainly is a good economy to be asking.

Has anyone tried this before? Any luck? I would love any comments you have. And I would be interested in what your favorite choices of plant material were. (We are aware of the unique micro-climate that roadside gardening presents!)

Looking forward to you comments & hope the idea of business adopt a program helps!

Barnes

I am also in need of information regarding funding for community gardens. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I am interested in seeking grant funding to establish & maintain a community flower and vegetable garden in the Town of Walpole, Massachusetts. The garden is to be situated on town land abutting the Bird Middle School and to be utilized by both students attending the school and senior citizens
of the Town of Walpole.

Places to seek funds
Community based and local family foundations interested in promoting community redevelopment, self sufficiency in persons over the age of 55, addressing hunger, urban beautification. Go to your local United Way for resources to these. They will usually help any non-profit group.

Garden clubs, plant societies, nurseries, lumber yards
Community development block grant funds

Host your own fund raisers: plant sales, harvest fairs, value added products, auction off a theme garden

Request fees from those who will use the garden

Corporate sponsorships are usually tied to something for the corp, ie public perception of involvement, tax breaks, free advertising.

fund raising is more creative thanyou think. You wont get anything unless you ask. good luck.

I've been helping run two community gardens for a while now, and I've discovered two things. One is that you don't really need much money, because most of the stuff you need (plants, seeds, hoses, tools, plumbing stuff, paint, mulch) can be donated in the form of materials, rather than money. The other thing is that people *love* to donate such stuff. Our local newspaper has a "nonprofits needs" section in its classifieds, and whenever we list something that we need (e.g. chicken wire) plenty of people call up and offer to donate some. They are very generous. Money is much harder to get, but that doesn't really matter. best, Karen.

Information about funding and other info about community gardens can be found at
American Community Garden Assoc.
www.communitygarden.org

We are starting a multicultural-intergenerational community garden here in Iowa City and we are looking for in-kind donations of supplies and grants to start the operation. We have a broad coalition of community agencies,gardeners and schools and extension service lined up to go to work. If anyone has good ideas on helping to secure any of these items I would be pleased to give you credit for the idea and help. Lynne garddes@soli.inav.net