Gardening grants for schools available

The George E. Archer Foundation recently announced it will accept grants for children’s gardening programs conducted by schools and other youth-serving organizations in eight counties in south- central Indiana, including Jackson.

To qualify for a basic $1,000 grant, projects must advance the foundation’s purpose to teach boys and girls about gardening, according to a news release from the foundation. Projects might include school yard gardens, workshops for education, curriculum support or garden camps.

Since 2011, the foundation has awarded more than $50,000 in grants to organizations, such as Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard in Bloomington, the Urban Wetlands Project at Indiana University, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Brown County YMCA and McCormick’s Creek Elementary School in Owen County.

Recipients must be nonprofit organizations. For a request larger than the basic grant, the foundation requires a letter of intent in advance of the grant application. The foundation does not fund staff salaries.

Other counties in the grant area are Bartholomew, Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe and Owen.

To apply or for information, visit archerfoundation.org.