Hi,

I’m looking for an educated opinion, guess, or guidance that would require some knowledge of grants – land grants, agriculture grants, etc.
I would like to know if I’d qualify for a government land grant for either or both of the following purposes:
To purchase land intended to host an extensive, well-designed native botanical garden/arboretum (including an extensive alternative edibles garden/Permaculture) open to the public or, if it is not possible for me to obtain a grant for this reason (being a lay person without scientific credentials or for other reasons?), then I’d like to know if I could obtain an agriculture grant towards the creation of a you-pick (pick-your-own) fruit farm. Ideally, I would have both of these separate functions on the land.
In both cases, I would set aside 1 acre upon which I’d build my home; the land would have to be at least 20 acres - in Orange County, New York.
I have what is, to my knowledge, a very extensive, specialized concept for a multi-biotope native botanical garden and educational ecology preserve. I’m a school teacher but, again, have no relevant credentials that lead me to believe that I qualify for a grant.
So, should I hold-out on buying the land on my own and attempt to seek-out funding? Ultimately, I would literally prefer this to be something open to the public and not just for my own exclusive benefit. In fact, even if I have to purchase the land without a government or state grant, I would still want to form this and open it to the public, including schools, agricultural and ecology enthusiasts; but I’ll want to know that I’d be wasting my time in expecting my project goal to qualify for a grant before I go ahead make a land purchase on my own.
-Steve

We are a non-profit 501-c-3, and so far have been given a 1/4 acre and a 1/2 acre parcel, one from our water company on ground they own, and the other from recreation and parks.

Our goals also include public education, growing areas set aside for senior nutition programs and FoodSHARE.