Environmental Center raising funds for school garden grants
In the summer of 2017, The Environmental Center launched the inaugural School Garden Grant Program with a goal to provide local funding for schools in Central Oregon to start, expand or improve access to a learning garden. Garden activities and education provide a wide range of positive benefits for kids, communities and the environment. This garden grant program is one strategy in The Environmental Center’s Garden for Every School initiative.
Through community, business and foundation support, $7,500 in funds were awarded to seven schools: Bear Creek Elementary, Bend International School, Sisters Elementary School, Three Rivers School, REALMS, Seed to Table Educational Farm, and Henry Slater Elementary School.
Grants awarded in 2017 were used in very different ways, both on indoor and outdoor infrastructure including irrigation, fencing, seeds, dirt, and more. One unique project was developed at Three Rivers Elementary School in Sunriver. Their goal was to create a school garden project that was manageable in size and scope, but still connected students to growing food. With assistance from our FoodCorps Service Member, the school designed and built three mobile indoor garden carts using donated shopping carts – complete with a ‘parking garage’ lighting system, soil and seeds, and a water catchment system. They also purchased hand tools and watering cans. In the coming weeks, you can read highlights of all 2017 grant-funded projects at: envirocenter.org/schoolgardens .
The Environmental Center just launched a community campaign to replenish the School Garden Grant fund, with the goal of raising $7,500 by July 27, 2018.
A kick-off event will take place at The Environmental Center’s Kansas Ave. Learning Garden on June 19, 2018 from 4-6pm. Attendees can volunteer in the garden and enjoy beer, kombucha, snacks and live music as they learn about the initiative.
Those interested in supporting this campaign can make a donation online: https://envirocenter.org/gardengrants/ . Donors can also text GARDEN to 1-844-544-7171.
In addition to community support, The Environmental Center will pursue foundation grants to help grow the grant fund. All funds raised during this campaign will go directly to the School Garden Grant fund for 2018-2019. (Applications will be available in the fall.)
