Upcoming Events
Save the Date for our Farm to School Garden Leadership Workshops
This year we are offing the training in TWO locations. The four-day training consists of hands-on learning and lectures to help you learn how to build and sustain a school garden while incorporating it into your curriculum! Open to all Louisiana public and private schools.
Baton Rouge, LA: May 30 – June 2 and Alexandria, LA: July 10 – 13
Registration and more information on the trainings to come in March 2023!
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Louisiana Harvest of the Month
Make your Valentine’s Day berry special with our Louisiana Harvest of the Month cards! Don’t miss this opportunity to show your appreciation for the special people in your life, especially the ones that feed your body and brain!
Funding Opportunities
2023 Educator Resource Grant Application
The purpose of these grants is to provide educator packs that include 1 copy of the Book of the Year: I LOVE STRAWBERRIES, 1 copy of the accompanying educator guide, and 1 set of 30 Specialty Crop ag mags for educational use. By providing this grant, AFBFA, Nationwide Insurance, and Nestle Purina hope to help educators teach young learners with more accurate information about agriculture. All U.S. educators may apply (including home schoolers). Note: I LOVE STRAWBERRIES is best suited for grades K-3.
The deadline for application submission is February 28, 2023.
Louisiana Ag In The Classroom Google Classroom Enrollment Form
Are you a Louisiana PreK-12 teacher? Are you looking for new resources to use with your students after state testing? Would you like to receive a FREE bundle of classroom teaching materials, a $25 Amazon gift card, AND be entered into our Winter 2022 drawing for an iPad? All while learning about free resources available to teach your Louisiana State Standards? Head over to this link to enroll in our 2022 Louisiana Ag in the Classroom Google Classroom to join a group of like-minded educators looking to add more resources to their classroom this year! Register today by visiting https://aitcla.org/google-aitc! Enrollment has been capped at the first 125 teachers to register!
GrowMoreGood Grassroots Grant
Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities. In early 2023, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program. Any organization in the United States or US territories that plans a new garden program or improves an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth ages 0-18 is eligible to submit an application.
The GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant, brought to you by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening, is designed to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States. The Grassroots Grants are part of The Scotts Miracle-Gro’s larger GroMoreGood initiative, which will bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces to 10 million children by the end of 2023.
In 2023, 160 programs will receive funding to start or expand their youth garden or greenspace. A total of $95,000 will be awarded.
The deadline for application submission is February 10, 2023
Center for Science in the Public Interest Grants
CSPI is releasing several grant opportunities this funding cycle organized into 4 focus areas: State and local policy grants, Community prioritized policy innovation grants, Federal lobbying grants, Power building grants. Many topics will be relevant to school food, SNAP, CNR, and other categories relevant to Farm to School. Find more information, including resources for applicants and application information, and sign up to be notified about relevant funding opportunities here.
RWJF’s Evidence for Action: Investigator-Initiated Research to Build a Culture of Health
This program funds research that expands the evidence needed to build a Culture of Health, which is broadly defined as one in which good health and well-being flourish across geographic, demographic, and social sectors; public and private decision making is guided by the goal of fostering equitable communities; and everyone has the opportunity to make choices that lead to healthy lifestyles. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more about the proposal process and the program itself.
National Education Association Foundation Grants
Student Success Grants, offered by the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation, are for projects that help students learn how to think critically and solve problems in order to improve student learning. Learning & Leadership Grants, offered by the NEA Foundation, are for professional development opportunities for individuals or groups. Grants are available to current members of NEA who are educators in public schools or public institutions of higher education. Preference is given to proposals that incorporate STEM and/or global learning into projects, which can include farm to school activities. Two levels of funding are available: $2,000 and $5,000. Apply for a Student Success Grant here or a Learning & Leadership Grant here.
The Bee Grant
The Bee Cause Project empowers students, teachers, and community members to experience the wonder, ingenuity, beauty, and power of the honey bee. Join the network of passionate educators, beekeepers, and community leaders in building the buzz for integrating bees into STEAM education. Learn more about the Bee Grant and apply here.
Captain Planet Project Learning Garden
Schools can apply now to win a Captain Planet Foundation Project Learning Garden through partnerships with grocery retailers around the country. Grand Prize Winners will receive a one-year supply of DOLE Fruit Bowls and a Project Learning Garden provided by Captain Planet Foundation, including: 5 garden beds or garden expansion (for schools with an existing garden), mobile garden cooking cart, standards-based Learning Garden lessons and lesson supply kits, and online teacher training. Learn more about the Project Learning Garden and apply here.
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) and Dreyer’s Fruit Bars
FTPF and Dreyer’s are planting orchards across the country in a collaborative program called “Communities Take Root,” and your town could be next! They invite your community to apply for this exciting opportunity to grow fresh fruit, beautify neighborhoods, strengthen relationships and build community food security—all through the simple act of planting fruit trees. FTPF is currently accepting the first 100 qualified applications for the next round of the program, which involves a public online vote to select the final recipients. * FTPF provides all plants, related materials and equipment, community workshops and training, and our team will work with your community volunteers to install the orchard. Recipients must have the appropriate space and commitment to the orchard to qualify. Download the application here and submit via email only. *Schools are not eligible to apply. Please visit the Fruit Tree 101 Grants page for more information about the school orchard program.
Salad Bars to Schools
Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is a comprehensive grassroots public health effort to mobilize and engage stakeholders at the local, state and national level to support salad bars in schools. Their vision is to significantly increase salad bars in schools across the country until every child has the choice of healthy fruits and vegetables every day at school. Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools is an initiative of the Food Family Farming Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, United Fresh Produce Association Foundation, and Whole Foods Market to support First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. The goal of the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools program is to fund and award 6000 salad bars over the next three years.