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

So I googled it: 'how to start an arboretum', and actually got some hits.

Developing an Arboretum (esp see the Tips section):
http://arboretum.unl.edu/poppages/clstartarboretum.htm

Wyman's Gardening encyclopedia by Donald Wyman - 1986 - 1221 pages has reference to starting an arboretum. Maybe you can get it through your library. If they don't have it, they may be able to get it elsewhere in the country through an InterLibrary Loan (ILL).

Here is an 'Arboretum Guide, Revised': http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/URBAN_FORESTS/docs/Other_Publications/Arbore tumGuide.pdf

But you might want to go to some local arboretums and see if you can talk to someone there.

Here is a government site on available grants: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=CATSEARCH&fundActivity=A G

You will really need to do your research. Go to a google search box and just type in your question. Someone has probably asked it before.

Good luck!

Sue