Feb 22 is deadline for SYHG grant - helpful info.
Patty Zehl
February 17, 2010
Hello to all potential garden grant applicants,
This email is to remind you of the Feb. 22nd submittal deadline for CAC’s new Share Your Harvest Garden Grant funded by the Madison Community Foundation - encouraging new or existing community gardens and food pantry gardens in Dane County to grow fresh vegetables for donation to food pantries, meal sites or other agencies that provide hunger relief at no cost.
Grants of up to $3,000 each will be given out in March 2010. To be eligible groups must meet the following requirements:
- They have a new or existing community garden or food pantry garden in Dane County
- Their garden will partner with and contribute garden produce to one or more local hunger relief agencies
To view or print the application, cover letter or flyer visit: http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/Garden%20Grants/garden_grants.htm
A Few Tips When Filling Out Your Application:
1) There are two different grants located on this webpage. DO NOT select the New Garden Fund grant! Make sure you are filling out the correct application to be eligible for the Share Your Harvest Garden grant. A few applicants have asked why the application deadline is in January - they were looking at the wrong grant. If you want to be considered for this grant - do not submit the wrong application!
2) A common question I’ve been asked concerns the need for a soil test. Let me clarify what is needed:
- If the garden space is a new garden, you must have a soil sample. If the ground is frozen, you may include a narrative which states the ground is frozen and you will collect soil samples as soon as it warms up. If you are awarded the grant, funding is contingent on a positive soil sample. You will not receive funding until we have the results of the soil sample. I spoke to representatives from the soil lab at the Garden Expo and they indicated we received snow early, prior to the ground freezing - so you may still be able to dig 6” into the soil to get a sample.
- If the space used to garden is an existing community garden or food pantry garden you do not need to collect soil samples if it was gardened on in 2009 without any problems. Include this information in your narrative. If you have an older soil sample, you are encouraged to submit it.
3) Application questions “H” and “I” address your plan to produce or collect produce and how it will be delivered to your partner agency. Do not skimp on details in your narrative. The purpose of the grant is to distribute fresh locally grown produce to hunger relief agencies. Your plan will be compared to others. The grants with the strong, sustainable ideas that are well thought out are more likely to receive the grant. If you are already growing produce that has been delivered to hunger relief agencies in 2009 and earlier - let us know about this. We will also be interested in how you will improve what you are currently doing.
4) Application question “J” concerns the measurement and delivery of produce donated. Give us a clear and sustainable plan - again one that is well thought out. How will you measure the amount of produce, how will it be delivered, is one person responsible or multiple? Details are important for the grant committee in determining which groups have the best, well thought out plans.
5) You need to submit letters of endorsement from the hunger relief agencies that partner with your garden. It’s okay for you to write the letter, and then ask the pantry coordinator to sign it.
Joe Mingle one of Madison’s leaders in coordinating the communities’ interests in Urban Agriculture contacted me today. He has experience with grant writing, and would be glad to assist you at no charge if you’re having troubles. His number is: 608-249-9699. Call him now, don’t wait until Sunday night!
Time is short - so please contact Joe or myself if you need help in completing your application by noon on Feb. 22nd. I’d be happy to help, so please contact me with any questions you may have about this great opportunity.
Patty Zehl
VISTA Food and Pantry Gardens
Community Action Coalition