Youth gardening grants available

The North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association (NDFMGA) has announced a $500 grant is available to all organizations, no matter the legal structure, that serve youth ages 1-19 years of age through regularly scheduled programming.

The grant is offered on a first-come-first-serve basis with NDFMGA choosing recipients based on the strength of their proposal and the likelihood of success of their project.

Five recipients will be chosen each calendar year the grant is offered. Recipients can only receive grant funds once per organization.

The project must entail the use, planting, growing, or harvesting of edible garden items. Non-edible garden projects will be rejected. One-time projects will be viewed less favorably than long-term projects that have support from their organization or community for future growth and sustainability.

Recipients agree to submit to the NDFMGA executive director by Nov. 30 of the calendar year in which funding was received the following information: copies of all receipts for items purchased with the funding, photos of the project, copies of, photos of or links for any publications, press releases, signage, marketing or advertising materials including online, video and audio media where NDFMGA was credited for their support and a final report outlining the project outcomes, number of youth participating, names of other community or school organizations that were involved in the project, how the edible garden items were used, sold, or distributed and the value of the project to the organization its participants and community.

A project coordinator must be listed on the application who will be responsible for the funds, their use and necessary reporting to the NDFMGA.

Applications may be found on the NDFMGA website at (www.ndfarmersmarkets.org) under the menu item youth group idea sheet and application. Additional details are also located on the web page. Completed applications must be submitted to Holly Rose Mawby, executive director, NDFMGA, Dakota College at Bottineau, 105 Simrall Blvd., Bottineau, ND 58318 or email at ([email protected]) Cell phone: (701) 681-0252.