Farming for the Future Mini Grants

2011

Provided by the South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.

Previous winners and 4H Volunteers from Ocean County, Caleb & Clare, assisted riders at the Homestead Nursery rest stop during the 2010 Tour des Farms.

Mini Grant Winners 2011 announced

The South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council announced it will give out two Mini-Grants from its "Farming for the Future" grant program in 2011. Projects are funded based on their ability to increase awareness among young people and the public at large on how agriculture benefits New Jersey and society in general. This year the Council will award grants to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County and the D&R Greenway Land Trust.

The Gloucester County project, Junior Master Gardener Community Garden, will fund hands-on learning for junior master gardeners on how to plan, plant, and care for vegetable gardens. These raised bed community gardens will provide produce to be donated to local charities.

These volunteers learn about horticulture, staff the Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline, and work within their communities to educate the public on horticultural and natural resource issues. They will work throughout Gloucester County on various gardening activities. Upon completion of their training Master Gardeners are asked to volunteer 60 hours within one year of completing their training and 20 hours annually to remain active.

The D&R Greenway Land Trust project will also educate school students. The Land Trust will plan and coordinate two field days at St. Michael's Farm Preserve.

Funding for this grant is provided by South Jersey's annual Tour des Farms bike ride. The purpose of Tour des Farms is to send riders through agricultural areas and to acquaint them first hand with farmers and locally grown produce. "We do this by designing bike routes that pass by local farm stands, where riders can buy produce using farm bucks. We then pick up the produce and bring it back to the museum" stated Ken Taaffe, the event coordinator. Last September, over 250 riders participated in this ride. The event was sponsored jointly by the South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council and Burlington County.

Last year's winners were the Ocean County 4H Program's "Animalology" Competition and the Cape May Special Services School Hydroponics Project.

View past winners on left NavBar.