Friends of Burlington Gardens partnered with the Vermont Community Foundation for this statewide, school-based gardening initiative that teaches Vermont children and youths how to grow fresh produce using land on or adjacent to public school campuses.

The program's funding came from a federal grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), with the support of Senator Bernie Sanders.

The School Community Garden Mini-grant Program provided technical assistance and mini-grants of $1,000 each to support the infrastructure development of 40 school community gardens in Vermont.

New! 2011 Mini-grant Outcomes, Reflections, and Photos

1) The Results!

Read the Evaluation Report Executive Summary

Read the Full Evaluation Report (11MB pdf)

Click the link to view the list of 40 School Community Garden Mini-grant Recipients announced on April 12, 2011. All 14 Vermont counties are represented among the mini-grant award recipients.
 
2) Grantee Reports! Click the links below to view 2011 project outcomes, reflections, stories, and site visit photos highlighting each of the 40 school community gardens mini-grant recipients. Reports are organized by county.

What is a school community garden?

A school community garden can be a cultivated plot with beds, rows, and pathways; a collection of raised bed gardens; or an allotment style community garden with beds and plots for community and school use. A school community garden relies on a partnership between the school and community for educational programming, and to ensure that the garden is well managed and maintained during the school year and summer months.

Vermont Community Garden Network e-newsletter

Mini-grant announcements and program updates are made through the Vermont Community Garden Network e-newsletter, which is published as a free public service by Friends of Burlington Gardens. 

To subscribe to the VCGN e-newsletter, send an email to Friends of Burlington Gardens with your name, home or school mailing address, and phone number. Workshop participants receive the VCGN e-newsletter automatically. 

Thanks to Senator Bernie Sanders
 
Senator Sanders has supported youth, school, and community gardening for 30 years dating back to his time as Mayor of Burlington, 1981-1989. To learn more, please click the links to our archives below: