If you want to start or develop an organic garden, grants for organic gardens may help you with the funding you need.
A grant is an award provided to an organization or a person and can be given for a variety of purposes. Grants do not need to be paid back, but need to be used for whatever is proposed during the application process. Grants for organic gardens or farms can decrease the burden on the farmer.
Types of Funding
Grants for organic gardens or farms are provided for numerous reasons, including research, education, location, start-up,and equipment. It is important to determine the average grant amount awarded prior to preparing an application.
Sources
Organic farming grants can come from the federal government, private foundations such as the organic farming research foundation, the USDA, and the sustainable agriculture research and education program. Some stores may also provide a limited number of grants for seeds, tools, and other supplies. You can search on grants.gov or foundationcenter.org to find potential grant opportunities,
Eligibility
It is important to determine whether you are eligible for a grant for an organic garden. Although many funders only provide a grant for non-profit organizations, some grants or grant/loan programs are available for individuals, businesses, and co-ops.
Application
When preparing your organic garden grant application, be sure to fill out the application completely and answer all the questions. Many funders for organic garden grants want to know how you could involve your community, whether it is providing some food to a non-profit, a school, or offering educational opportunities for students. If this is for a community garden, be sure to include a letter of support from school principals, teachers, or other leaders in the community. Make sure that you write about all aspects of your organic gardening project.
Supplements
Some funders may want to see previous budgets, such as how much money was spent and the amount of income. They may want to see success prior to providing further funding. You can also provide a photo of the area in which you want to expand to familiarize them with your area and your project. Include maps, drawings, and land surveys if applicable so the funder can gauge the feasibility of the project.
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