Oregano in blossom
Looking for resources to fund the local comuunity garden can be compared to looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.But that gold is there, say all leprechauns. To begin,take the time to look at municipal-sponsored gardens and greenhouses on the web (NJ) and see how others support their community resouces.
Examples of NJ Municipal Greenhouses from the Internet
Maplewood NJ greenhouse contains some ideas that could be adapted to Teaneck: These include renting out spaces to citizens, first come, first served, for vegetable and plant growing. Greenhouses are on town property and maintained financially and otherwise by the Garden Club. This club, started in the 30s,received a national award for the effort.Belmar, NJ: Magical Gardens Started in the 80s. Municipally supported. Club also rents space to people for gardens, as well as indoors.
Grant Resources: You have to dig in here, with a focus on looking for grant opportunities that meet your purposes. Grants get given for limited periods of time, for specific purposes and usually getting one is quitecompetitive.< You will be filling out an application
Usually, grants from the US or State governments are given to groups with well established reputations (university, research, etc.) An exception is in education, in which numerous mini-grants are tied to elementary education. Community groups are eligible for some. Any such award would need members who know how to write curriculum and specify standards.
Learn about proposal writing: A Foundation Center Free Course Online. Then the resources will make more sense.
In the past, have downloaded a number of proposals that show good ideas that won grants. One was to use computer heat to warm up a greenhouse (Indiana, 2009.) If you are interested, write me (urbanherban@hotmail.com.)
State links: The New Jersey Agriculture Dept. has information, case studuies, descipyions of projects and several specific kinds of grant opportunities.There are qualifications, deadlines and forms to examine on your quest.
Federal links: This is the largest grants database available for free. The Foundation Center’s database costs $2,000 a year to support looking for opportunities in the corporate and non-profit world.
Look at qualifications, forms, amounts, and deadlines:http://www.grants.gov/ Estimate what to start with--usually, a well thought out problem statement or proposal.
Associations: Some garden associations have mini-grants for working with children. Connect with The National Gardening Association of America and look at their listing of grants. Kids Gardening has a listing of these on http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp.
University Databases: Rutgers Agricultural Sciences Subject Guide.You will find ideas in the databases assembled (horticulture, environment, water use, etc.).
Corporate Resources. Considering the amount of literature from companies done with university partners for energy efficiency, it is smart to look at company and university research literature. For instance, if you use “drip irrigation“ as a search in Google, will find Center for Irrigation Technology. Look at what is being funded and by whom. It can inform your proposal,
Beyond Databases: One Specific Book. Foundation Directory. Part 2: Guide to Grant Programs, $25,000-$100,000. Call Number: REF 061 FOU PART 2 2009 ED This directory includes foundations by name, state, subject---and has material on what organizations were funded, with how much in funds. Restrictions in funding are listed. You will be surprised how many small foundations there are, as well as the activities they support.
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