NRCS funding for school gardens

[Sam Ullery]

Hi All, 

I'm curious if there's anyone with experience working with the National Resource Conservation Services (NRCS/ USDA)? We are exploring opportunities with our state office  to provide financial assistance and technical support for school gardens and would love to learn how this looks in other states.

Thank you! 

Sam Ullery

School Gardens Specialist  

DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education 

[Sara Churgin]

As ED of a conservation district we partner with NRCS.   

The only way it’ll fund a school garden is if it’s on a farm OR NRCS has had a funding source called Peoples Garden that funds community gardens.  We had one for 5 years and were able to fund school gardens.  However as far as I know that source of funding isn’t available presently.  

You could call your local conservation district (they are in every state) and find out.  

Hope this helps.  

Sara Churgin

Pronouns (she/her/hers)

District Manager, Eastern RI Conservation District

Project Coordinator, Rhode Island State Conservation Committee

Leadership Committee, Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition

email:  sa...@easternriconservation.org

phone:  401-934-0842

cell:      401-225-6033

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[Em Shipman]

Sam, 

I know a lot of conservation districts in Vermont and New Hampshire (not NRCS, but working closely with them) are supporting environmental ed, garden-based ed, and school gardens. To my knowledge, they are not offering funding, but supplies, TA, and labor.

Here's a program a colleague of mine runs that might interest you. They use VT's proficiency-based learning evaluation system to offer credits to students to farm and garden. Regeneration Corps also supports school gardens. Karen, the director, can share more details with you. I am happy to make an introduction.

Best,

Em

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[HISDAg Houston]

In Houston we got a grant from our state NRCS office to install a pathway on our farm through a Conservation Innovation Grant, as well as help developing a year round crop rotation plan. Our experience in working with our local and state conservationists has been great. 

Best,

Marcus

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[Erin Maidlow]

NRCS offers several programs like EQIP where they work with you on conservation projects like installing native plants, wind breaks, or high tunnels and reimburse you. I’ve met with them several times about this for one of our large school gardens (essentially a farm), and they will fund it! 

Outside of NRCS, our conservation districts often work in school garden education and fund school garden programs, usually as a partner with schools or other funders. So it’s doable!

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[Emily Becker]

Love this question. Here's my Alaska perspective: NRCS dollars have all been allocated for FY26, so spending time now talking with your NRCS rep or Conservation District would be good to help you plan for getting on the list for next year. Here, school gardens have never really been eligible and now there is a "farmers first" mandate that puts less emphasis on outreach and education. So get creative and make it a school farm instead of a garden. NRCS contracts are competitive and the paperwork is daunting. Keep in mind the NRCS lost 25% of its staff last year with huge cuts to funding for contracts. (They launched a "new" Regenerative Ag program that is basically the same goals as before but with about 1/3 of the funding.) That said, I have always found NRCS staff to be super helpful, professional, etc. and they will do everything they can to help!

[John Fisher]

The RCD of Greater San Diego County has had a long history supporting school gardens.

You can see what they offer here

https://www.rcdsandiego.org/school-garden-support

-- JOHN
John Fisher - Director of Programs & Partnerships - 831.471.7831  
Life Lab cultivates children's love of learning, nourishing food, and nature through garden-based education. www.lifelab.org

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