American Community Gardening Association

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American Community Gardening Association
1777 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43203
(877) ASK-ACGA
http://www.communitygarden.org

ACGA thanks

Franklin Park Conservatory Logo ... nurturing plants and people

The Franklin Park Conservatory
and Botanical Gardens

2012 Board of Directors

Executive Committee:
Bobby L. Wilson, President
Bill Maynard, Vice President
Christine Pardee, Secretary
Edie Stone, Treasurer

Kirsten Conrad Buhls
Kristin Faurest
Vicki Fitts
Maree Gaetani
LaManda Joy
Caroline Kiang
Susan Leibrock
Chris Lowe
Monika McCurdy
Charlie Monroe
Justin Garrett Moore
Cathy Walker
Sandra Zuniga

News from the
American Community Gardening Association

March 2012

In This Issue

A Message from Beth Urban

The birds are coming back and starting to wake me up every morning. That can only mean one thing, spring is close! I know most of you have already begun your planning for your garden this year. I spent February trying to decide what new plants will be in my garden this year and still haven‘t narrowed my selection down to an amount that will actually fit in my garden.

ACGA has been busy planning for 2012 as well. We held our board meeting in Austin,Texas in February and worked on strategic planning for the organization. We have updated our vision statement and mission statement. Our vision is to have a sustainable community in every garden. Our mission is ACGA improves lives by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening.

We also identified 3 strategic goals

ACGA will be a resource to the all in the community including local government, organizations, and community members for best practices in the incorporation of community in food growing, gardening and greening
Position ACGA as the top experts on community gardening
Expand ACGA’s ability to be a resource for food gardening

You can help us reach our goals by becoming a member, serving on a committee, attending a conference or planning a Growing Communities Workshop in your community. You can get more information about any of these by checking out our website www.communitygarden.org or contacting our office 877-ASK-ACGA.

Sincerely,

Beth Urban
ACGA Executive Director

2012 Annual Conference Save the Date

SAVE THE DATE ---

33rd Annual American Community Gardening Association National Conference

"Community Gardening On the Cutting Edge"
Thursday, August 9 - Sunday, August 12, 2012
Hilton Financial District, 750 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA

Conference Logo

Your Garden is Invited to Participate in National Public Lands Day

ACGA is partnering with National Public Lands Day to celebrate community garden volunteers and bring attention to the positive influence of public gardens to the United States. Host a volunteer event on Saturday, September 29th and your garden can be a part of the nation’s largest one-day volunteer event for public lands.

For 19 years, National Public Lands Day has encouraged volunteerism at public lands ranging from urban pocket parks to large national parks, such as the Grand Canyon. In 2011, more than 180,000 people volunteered at 2,067 events in every state as well as U.S. territories.

National Public Lands Day is dedicated to increasing the participation of community gardens for the 2012 event and recognizing them as vital public lands that benefit environmental and community health.

If your community garden participates in National Public Lands Day, it will not be alone! Last year, more than 30 community gardens participated in National Public Lands Day including:
•   Boone Street Garden, Baltimore, Md.
•   Newberry Math & Science Academy Garden, Chicago, Ill.
•   Adam Rogers Community Garden, San Francisco, Calif.
•   James Park Community Garden, Evanston, Ill.
•   Pittman-Sullivan Community Garden, San Antonio, Texas

Join the nationwide celebration of public lands! Host and register an event for National Public Lands Day - Saturday, September 29th, 2012. Learn more online, read the FAQ webpage or email npld@neefusa.org for more information.

March Experts Panel Conference Call for ACGA Members

These conference calls, which are open to all ACGA members,
are an informative time to connect and learn with other ACGA members.

To become an ACGA member, click here.

Join us for
the March Experts Panel Conference Call

Victory Gardens

With LaManda Joy

Thursday, March 22, 2012
2:00pm Eastern | 1:00pm Central | 12:00pm Mountain | 11:00am Pacific

ACGA is excited to host LaManda as she shares her historical knowledge of the Victory Garden movement and the current efforts to promote urban food gardens.

Speaker Bio:
LaManda Joy is an award winning Master Gardener, author of the popular urban gardening blog “The Yarden”, a Square Foot Gardening Certified Instructors and Founder of The Peterson Garden Project a community and edible garden education program in Chicago, Illinois. She is a board member of the American Community Gardening Association, member of The Culinary Historians of Chicago and a national speaker on Victory Gardens, both historic and modern, and other edible garden topics. Her recent lecture at the Library of Congress can be seen here: http://ht.ly/6aY8K.

TO REGISTER FOR FOR THE EXPERTS PANEL:

Email the following information at least a week before the call to info@communitygarden.org. Your contact information may be shared if participants would like to continue the discussion with other participants. Please put the Expert Panel title you‘re registering for in the subject line.

Please include the following:

-ACGA membership number:
(If you‘ve just joined, please call the office and let us know, toll-free - 877-275-2242.)

-Name:
-Organization:
-City:
-Email:
-Description of your garden/program (25 words or less):

After registration you will receive an email from ACGA with instructions to join the call. Expert Panel calls typically last 60-90 minutes and involve time for discussion among the guest speaker and audience.

Upcoming Growing Communities Workshop

The next workshop will be

October 24-26, Tanglewood Park, NC

For information regarding the training in NC, contact Laura Lavid.

To learn more about the workshop and how you can host one in your community, go to
http://communitygarden.org/learn/training/growing-communities/index.php

To read about the recent Columbus workshop, go to
http://colewardell.com/environment/can-gardening-be-a-form-of-community-organizing

Advocacy Update

On February 15, the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held its first of four upcoming hearings related to the 2012 Farm Bill. The first hearing, titled “Energy and Economic Growth for Rural America,” examined the economic impact of Farm Bill legislation with regard to job creation, investment in rural communities, and the benefits of sustainable energy technology. A video of the hearing can be viewed on the Committee’s website here. Over the next month, three more hearings are scheduled:
•   On February 28, “Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill” will explore how to help farmers maintain healthy natural resources such as water and soil. Two hearings are also scheduled for next month.
•   On March 14, “Healthy Food Initiatives, Local Production and Nutrition” will address methods for connecting consumers to local, healthy food sources.
•   On March 21, “Risk Management and Commodities in the 2012 Farm Bill” will examine the need for cost effectiveness and risk management tools for farmers, given the unsteady price of crops, higher input costs for small farmers, and the threat of natural disasters.

To get involved with these policy deliberations, contact your Congresspeople and urge them to cosponsor several pieces of legislation attached to the Farm Bill:
•   Community Agriculture Development and Jobs Act (H.R. 3225) seeks to promote agricultural expansion in traditionally non-agricultural areas, made possible by grants for local food infrastructure, sustainable food systems, vacant lot renewal, and education and training resources. The bill currently has 10 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.
•   Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011 (H.R. 3236) encourages farming entrepreneurship by providing incentives for maintaining farmland and general environmental quality; providing loans for rural development, education, and research; and encouraging returning veterans to begin farming. The bill currently has 16 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.
•   Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act of 2011 (H.R. 3286) makes several provisions to help reduce input costs on small farmers, including: incorporating facts on local food in nutrition programs; adjusting risk management costs to better meet small farmers’ needs; prohibits organic crop surcharges; directing corporations to price organic crops to reflect actual wholesale price; extending food stamps to cover local and organic producers; directing schools to use 15% of their commodity dollars for local food; increase the fiscal year for community food project grants; and other provisions. The bill currently has 67 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.
•   A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require State electronic benefit transfer contracts to treat wireless program retail food stores in the same manner as wired program retail food stores (S. 1593), which provides for farmers markets, green carts, community gardens, and other “wireless” food sources to be covered by food stamps. The bill currently has 3 cosponsors in the Senate.

For more information, go to: http://www.communitygarden.org/take-action/current-campaigns.php.

On the ACGA Website: Twitter

Do you tweet? Let‘s connect!

http://twitter.com/#!/ACGA_CommGarden

Spotlight on Community: Shared Harvest Community Garden

This month, we are spotlighting the Shared Harvest Community Garden in Durango, Colorado, with an interview with Jama Crawford. The Shared Harvest Community Garden was created in 2001 by Robert Kauer on his private farm. A donation of purple bush beans, yellow squash and tender broccoli florets brought Jama and Robert together, and Jama started working at the farm, they fell in love, got married, and now pool their resources and talents to run the farm and the community garden.

Getting underway in late June

Harvest time!
Oren Moore with sunflower

Garlic team, digging up the harvest

Gardeners enjoying a potluck supper

Garden Name:	Shared Harvest Community Garden
Location:	7 miles outside of Durango, Colorado
Operating since:	2001
Membership size:	65 member households with 40 on a waiting list
Area:	About 1 fenced acre
Elevation:	7,000 ft
Frost free growing season:	90 days, June 15 to Sept 15
Model of operation:	Communal labor, communal harvest (we work in crop teams)

Q.) What are some of the ways that Shared Harvest Community Garden builds community?

A.) We build community in three ways. First we work communally. All members are placed on a team to raise specific crops. Most teams schedule a weekly work date and arrive at the same time to share labor, laughs, social support, and friendship. Second we harvest communally. This does require some organization to make sure the harvest is fair, but it also gives people a chance to express to others how much they appreciated the crops they raised. Third we eat together. Once a month during the growing season we have a potluck dinner and everyone brings their best dishes often prepared with garden vegetables. Sometimes during a potluck we willl have a song or skit or contest, but it is mostly casual dining, a bottle of wine and great conversation.

Q.) What are some of the things you do as a garden organizer?

A.) One of my roles is creating the garden‘s digital documents used to organize our garden. In the winter I help select seeds with a small group of other organizers. Then I create a garden map and assign households to particular crop-planting teams. I also developed and manage the garden database, send out the weekly emails (with help from my husband and team leaders), create surveys and analyze and report survey results. I also am a gardener with dirt under my fingernails! I spend about four hours a week on digital documents and about two hours a week as an actual gardener.

Q.) You‘ve mentioned the garden database on the ACGA email list. Can you tell us more about the database?

A.) I used FileMaker Pro but Access or another database product would work as well. There are some online database tools (such as Google‘s) but I haven‘t tried them and I don‘t know how easy they are to customize. I love Excel, but it makes a poor database, and Word or another word processing software is not suitable for tracking garden records over multiple years. The main advantage of a database is how it accumulates knowledge about the garden‘s operation and your individual members‘ participation year by year. Here (below) is a screenshot of a member record so you can begin to see some of the information that the database tracks.

Screenshot of database screen

This is the "members" page so it shows information about the individual. We have a "households" page with info about other members of the household, and a "team" page, to list all the members of the team and what they will raise.

Q.) Where can readers find out more about the garden?

A.) We have some of the finest mountain scenery and Native American ruins in the country. If you vacation here in Southwest Colorado, be sure to stop by. You can view our (amateur production) new member training video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuJvp1y_WJY or email us at sharedharvestgarden@yahoo.com

Events

The Stop Community Food Centre
Thursday, March 01, 2012
webinar

This month’s webinar, entitled “Good Food For All” will focus on The Stop’s food bank, and the changes that have taken place over the last 10-15 years to meet our mandate of increasing access to food in a way that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality, as well as a critical discussion about the role of food banks in today’s society.

Website: http://thestopevents.webex.com/

West Virginia Small Farm Conference
March 1-3, 2012
Morgantown, WV

March 1 will offer a selection of intensive day-long workshops: High Tunnels, Cheesemaking, Poultry, Grant-writing, Alternative Energy, and Youth Entrepreneurship. March 2-3 will offer shorter sessions on a variety of topics from beekeeping to backyard flocks to farm tax information and non-timber forest crops. Local food markets and meals are planned.

Website: http://smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu.edu/conference/schedule

NOFA-NH Winter Conference: Growing Food, Farm & Community
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Kingston, NH

The conference features Frances Moore Lappe` as keynote speaker and offers session tracks with farm, food, community, beginning organic farmer, or children‘s themes. Beginning Farmer scholarships are available.

Website: http://www.nofanhwc.org/

Transition Snoqualmie Valley‘s 2nd Annual GROW YOUR OWN FOOD EVENT
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Carnation, WA

For New and Experienced Gardeners!
Learn How To:

• Prepare a ground plot
• Start & Transplant seedlings
• Use raised beds
• Provide cold protection
• Choose plant varieties best suited for this climate
• Build simple plant supports
• Make compost, apply selected commercial fertilizers
• Use organic disease and pest control
• Save seeds from your own plants
• Raise backyard ducks and chickens
• Use containers for selected types of plants
• Edible landscape with fruits, nuts, berries
• Preserving the harvest methods
• Grind your own grains

Website: http://transitionsnoqualmievalley.ning.com

Native Seeds/SEARCH Seed School
March 4-9, 2012
Tucson, AZ

Join NS/S Executive Director Bill McDorman and special guests for a 6-day immersion into a new regional and sustainable seed production and distribution system, the only comprehensive training of its kind on seeds. A six-day immersion into the history, genetics, selection, germination, harvesting and production of seeds. If your sustainable agriculture program doesn‘t have its own seed component, how sustainable can it be? $600 early bird, $700 regular tuition. Scholarships for Native Americans, educators and those on limited income.

Website: http://www.nativeseeds.org/

California Small Farm Conference
March 4-6, 2012
Valencia, CA

The California Small Farm Conference is the state‘s premier gathering of small farmers, agricultural students, farmers’ market managers and others involved in the small farm industry. The three day educational conference includes day-long short courses and on-farm tours; focused workshops; engaging keynote addresses and numerous networking opportunities.

Website: http://californiafarmconference.com/

Permaculture Design Certification Course: Nature & Spirit in Action
March 5-10, March 26-31
Occidental, CA

This unique course and learning community will cover the extensive
72-hour permaculture design certification training outlined by Bill Mollison
with a connective emphasis on education and application of permaculture
in temperate, cool climates of Northern California.

Contact: Call Nancy at 415-454-5028
Website: http://

2012 Growing Local Workshop & Event Series
Multiple dates
Albuquerque, NM

The Growing Local Workshop & Event Series covers a variety of food and agriculture topics including business development, access to land, funding opportunities and more. We will also be hosting mixers aimed at connecting people around specific topics. Whatever your interest in local food, there’s something for everyone.

Website: http://www.abqmarkets.org

Accokeek Foundation upcoming workshops
various dates
Accokeek, MD

The Accokeek Foundation’s calendar is full of events that inspire, entertain, and teach.

Website: http://www.accokeek.org

Farmers Market Manager Training Conference
March 9-10, 2012
Saratoga, NY

This year, the conference focuses on sharing. Each session sponsors a market manager or panel of managers discussing their approach to market issues.

Website: http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/workshops.htm

National Good Food Network Webinar: USDA & Regional Food Systems
Thursday, March 08, 2012
webinar

The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative at USDA is a cross-agency effort focusing on local and regional food systems. In late February, the KYF Initiative will be releasing an in-depth report and interactive map cataloging USDA’s extensive work in local and regional food system systems across the country. In this webinar, USDA senior staff will tour you through these remarkable resources and demonstrate how they might be helpful for your work in the field.

Website: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/708241874

Growing Green Spring Urban Agriculture Training
March 9-10, 2012
Buffalo, NY

The Massachusetts Avenue Project’s Urban Agriculture Training features many practical, philosophical, and experiential opportunities to learn from MAP’s success with urban, youth centered agriculture.

Website: http://www.mass-ave.org

MICHIGAN YOUNG FARMER COALITION 4TH ANNUAL RETREAT
March 9-11, 2012
Highland Park, MI

This year, we will gather in Highland Park to share and celebrate the assets, skills and power of young and beginning farmers to affect positive changes in Michigan‘s food system.

Website: http://michiganyoungfarmercoalition.org/retreat/registration/

Webinar Series on Climate, Water, and Agriculture
various dates
webinar

Michigan State University specialists, researchers and Extension educators from throughout the university along with representatives from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will present a series of webinars for farmers, agricultural professionals, state and national agency personnel and interested stakeholders, discussing the important role water plays in modern agriculture production the long term impacts of a variable and changing climate. The free webinars run from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Friday afternoons, each with a different topic focus.

Website: http://www.news.msue.msu.edu/news/article/a_webinar_series_on_cli ...

Ohio Farmers‘ Market Conference
March 9-10, 2012
Columbus, OH

This two-day conference will be packed with practical information to assist Ohio producers and market managers to better their businesses.

Website: http://ohiofarmersmarkets.osu.edu/conference.htm

Edible Institute 2012
March 10-11, 2012
Santa Barbara, CA

Put on by the Edible Communities Publication

Website: http://www.ediblecommunities.com/content/edible-institute/edible- ...

GARDENING AND URBAN RENEWAL THEMES OF STAGEBRIDGE THEATRE COMPANY’S MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF CITY GREEN
March 10-11, 2012
Oakland, CA

Stagebridge, the nation‘s oldest senior theatre company, is proud to present the story of one girl‘s determination to turn an abandoned lot into a beautiful urban garden. Her motivation and cheery attitude buoys this musical about urban renewal and community action. Audience participation, live music and a dancing flower ballet enliven this adaptation of DyAnne DiSalvo‘s beloved children‘s book.

Website: http://www.stagebridge.org

Life Lab‘s School Garden Workshops
Mar - May 2012
Santa Cruz, CA

This spring‘s offerings include:

- Sat, March 10: Supporting English Learners in Science

- Thurs-Fri, March 22-23: The Growing Classroom - An Introduction to Garden-Based Learning

- Fri, March 30: Plant It, Grow It, Eat It! - Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education

- Thurs, May 17: Science Inquiry in the Garden

- Sat, May 19: Sowing the Seeds of Wonder - Discovering the Garden in Early Childhood Education

Website: http://www.lifelab.org/for-educators/workshops/gcworkshops/

Bolivia: Llamas, Quinoa and Andean Food Sovereignty
March 10-19, 2012
Bolivia

Witness the extraordinary food and agricultural systems of highland Bolivia. This Food First delegation will explore two of the most important products for Andean food sovereignty: quinoa and llamas.

Website: http://www.foodsovereigntytours.org/international-tours/bolivia/l ...

Trinity Gardens GRAND OPENING Celebration
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Santa Barbara, CA

Contact: Judy Sims, chair Trinity Gardens 805-637-3201
Website: http://

Sustainable Agriculture Conference
March 13-15, 2012
Fairbanks, AK

This eighth annual conference offers two pre-conference intensive workshops. Wide-ranging conference presentations will address livestock and crop production, marketing strategies, and local food efforts.

Website: http://www.uaf.edu/ces/ah/sare/conference/

Unlocking the Economic Power of Local
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Princeton, NJ

Join Michael Shuman, community economist and author of the upcoming book Local Dollars, Local Sense, in a day-long workshop on creating economic strength and resiliency in regional economies.

Website: http://princetonmerchants.org/events/a-day-long-workshop-with-mic ...

Licensing Laws: A Strong Tool for Healthy Food
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
webinar

What would it take to get all food retailers in your community to carry fresh produce and other healthy foods? One promising way: a local licensing law. In this Public Health Law & Policy webinar, you’ll learn how a licensing law can help bring healthy food to neighborhoods that need it most and hear a firsthand account of an innovative healthy food licensing law in Minneapolis from a key player involved in the program.

Website: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/showReg?udc=3xwfae027kcb

Good Food Festival & Conference
March 15-17, 2012
Chicago, IL

Local food financing, trade and food policy event & consumer day of workshops/demos

Website: http://goodfoodfestivals.com/chicago/

8th Annual Vermont Grain Growers Conference
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Essex, VT

Website: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/agriculture/?Page=grainconference.ht ...

Second Massachusetts Farm to School Convention
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Sturbridge, MA

Come hear how inspiring food service directors, educators, students, parents, and community members are building connections between schools and farms in Massachusetts - and learn what you can do to further those connections.

Website: http://www.massfarmtoschool.org/convention.htm

Pruning Fruit Trees
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Unity, ME

This event is part of the Organic Orcharding Workshop Series offered by Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Learn to prune fruit trees to encourage vigorous growth, heavy fruit set, and quality fruit yield. Collection of scion wood and storage will also be discussed.

Website: http://www.mofga.org/Events/OrganicOrchardingClasses/tabid/300/De ...

EIGHT-DAY PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE COURSE
March 18 - 25, 2012
Athens, OH

Explore the concepts, theories, and practice of Permaculture design. Experience Permaculture applied directly to the Midwest, as you live and learn with practicing ecological designers on Solid Ground Farm. Discover the interrelations of natural building, sustainable agriculture, biomimicry, broad-scale site design, local economies, local ecosystems, earthworks and waterways. Sure to be an exciting week of on-site projects, lectures, special guest teachers, site walks around the area, and fun nightly activities from African drumming lessons, to Capoeira and yoga classes. Come join the fun.

Website: http://www.solidgroundfarm.com

Dig In! Food & Garden Conference
Monday, March 19, 2012
Potsdam, NY

The Dig In! Food & Garden Conference will offer information, inspiration and resources to develop and strengthen food-based projects at the organizational level.

Website: http://gethealthyslc.org/

2012 Winter Hops Conference
Monday, March 19, 2012
Burlington, VT

Website: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/agriculture/?Page=hopsconference.htm ...

Research Chefs Association‘s Conf & Culinology® Expo
March 21-24, 2012
San Antonio, TX

Website: http://www.culinology.com/node/189

Women Caring for the Land Workshop
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Mandan, ND

FARRMS in Medina has partnered with the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society, NaturalResources Conservation Services and the Center for Rural Affairs to host a workshop for women only. Women are invited to attend this stimulating group conversation to exchange land stewardship goals and find out how to achieve them. Conservation experts, also women, will share resources available to you – like USDA cost-share programs, state loans, and other tools. All interested women, including owners, operators and inheritors of farmland, are welcome, no matter your knowledge of conservation.

Website: http://www.npsas.org/component/eventbooking/?task=view_event&even ...

Growing Diversity: Small Farm Resource National Conference
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Fresno, CA

Farmers, activists, and community organizations working with agriculture, health, farmers, and the farming community can learn what resources and information are available to assist small farmers.

Website: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5j ...

5th Annual Bluegrass Local Food Summit
March 22-24, 2012
Lexington, KY

This 2012 Bluegrass Local Food Summit seeks to involve the entire community as we encourage communities to send a team of people to build even more enhanced local synergy!! Participants will leave with a local food system action plan that will guide the efforts at a local and regional level

Website: http://sustainlex.org/

Done With Winter Conference
March 22 - 25, 2012
Wissahickon Watershed and surrounding Philadelphia area

"Springing Good Intentions into Action"

Website: http://thehomegrowninstitute.org/Home.html

Healthy Lives Healthy Kitchens
March 22-25, 2012
Napa Valley, CA

Website: http://www.healthykitchens.org/

National Teleconference Series: Black Organizing for Power and Dignity: Visions of Black Food and Health Justice and Black Food Sovereignty
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Teleconference

This teleconference is a strategy session for people of African descent, to highlight and explore organizing led by and for Black folks to achieve concrete goals of Black food and health justice and Black food sovereignty.

Website: http://fssg.blogspot.com/

Beginning Women Farmer Conference: Exploring Whole Farm Planning
March 22-23, 2012
Amherst, MA

Learn how Whole Farm Planning can help you achieve improved quality of life, profitability, and land health at this conference sponsored by Holistic Management International, the USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture, and the University of Massachusetts.

Website: http://holisticmanagement.org/conferencebwfne/

Intensive Weekend Certificate Course in Urban Agriculture at ECO City Farms
Multiple weekends
Edmonston, MD

This 22 hour, very intensive weekend hands-on course will provide you with sustainable strategies you require to plan and design an intensive food production system, based on your needs, goals, and resources, and suited to your own individual urban space. It includes five (5) core modules. Starting Your Farm, Composting 101, Hoophouse Design and Construction, Intro to Urban Livestock, Harvest, Processing and Marketing.

Website: http://www.ecoffshoots.org/all-new-intensive-weekend-certificate- ...

Appalachian Food and Agriculture Summit 2012: Common Roots, Common Goals
March 23-25, 2012
Blacksburg, VA

A chance for Students and Community members throughout the Appalachian region to have open discourse about their shared roots within their foodshed.

Contact: afasummit@gmail.com
Website: http://

Farm to Table Pittsburgh
March 23-25, 2012
Pittsburgh, PA

This sixth annual local food conference features farmers market vendors, live cooking demonstrations, and expert presentations about health and local food resources. The conference provides consumers with ideas and information about where their food comes from and where to find businesses and organizations who can provide them with healthy food and healthy lifestyle choices.

Website: http://farmtotablepa.com/conference

Growing Community Gardens
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Riverdale, MD

A gathering for Prince George’s County gardeners to build community, learn from each other, and gain gardening skills

Website: http://growingcommunitygardens.eventbrite.com/

US/Canada Citizens‘ Summit for Sustainable Development
March 24-25, 2012
New Haven, CT

The Summit will take place on March 24 & 25th at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in New Haven, Connecticut and will bring together over 150 high-level and emerging leaders from a variety of fields (academia, business, civil society, government, and politics) to generate new knowledge, policy, and action for sustainability in the United States and Canada.

Website: http://www.citizenssummit.org

School Garden Workshop
March 24 or June 18, 2012
Lexington, KY

Our goal is to help create a Garden At Every School in Kentucky!

Website: http://www.sustainlex.org/2012_Local_Food_Summit/online_registrat ...

IACP (Int‘l Assoc of Culinary Professionals)
March 29 - April 2, 2012
New York City

Website: http://www.iacp.com/attend/category/2012_annual_conference

The 30th National Pesticide Forum
March 30-31, 2012
New Haven, Ct

Although organic farming and land management continue to grow, policies to protect people from pesticides are threatened in the Northeast and around the country. At the same time, cutting-edge science links pesticide exposure to health problems, honey bee colony collapse, and other environmental issues. Join researchers, authors, beekeepers, organic business leaders, elected officials, activists, and others to discuss the latest science, policy solutions, and grassroots action.

Website: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/forum/

7th Annual Community Garden Spring Resource Fair
Saturday, March 31, 2012
St. Paul, MN

Website: http://www.gardeningmatters.org/

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND URBAN GARDENS IN CUBA Research Tour
March 31 - April 8, 2012
Cuba

Website: http://www.ecocubaexchange.org

Long Island Small Farm Summit
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Hempstead, NY

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend this year‘s Long Island Small
Farm Summit. The event will feature a full day of educational presentations,
interactive workshops, as well as two vibrant keynote speakers: Will Allen
of Growing Power and Chef Ann Cooper, the "Renegade Lunch Lady."

Website: http://www.smallfarmsummit.com/

Nutrition & Health Conference
April 16-18, 2012
Boston, MA

Website: http://nutritionandhealthconf.org/

Groundswell’s Sustainable Farming Certificate Program
Apr - Nov 2012
Ithaca, NY

This spring, the Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming will
again offer its full-season training program for aspiring and beginning
farmers and market gardeners. Running April 18 to November 14, the Sustainable
Farming Certificate Program provides 124 hours of classroom training, hands-on workshops, farm visits, and supervised work experience on sustainable farms.

Website: http://www.groundswellcenter.org

Common Good City Farm’s Green Tomorrows program
Course over 6 weeks
Washington, DC

This spring, Common Good City Farm will be kicking off its Green
Tomorrows program for members in our community, a unique and
innovative education initiative for low-income residents of
Washington, DC. Since 2007, Common Good City Farm has made it its
mission to provide educational opportunities for all people that help
increase food security, improve health, and contribute to
environmental sustainability. We had over 70 applicants for last
year’s Green Tomorrows program and hope to expand this year. In
conjunction with a variety of local community organizations, the Green
Tomorrows program seeks to provide low-income individuals with
hands-on educational experience in gardening and health awareness.

Website: http://www.commongoodcityfarm.org/

Whole Measures for Community Food Systems Intensive Training
April 23-25, 2012
Lexington, KY

The Community Food Security Coalition is hosting an intensive workshop on Whole Measures for Community Food Systems (WM CFS). This 2-day training will include in-depth, tailored information on how to implement Whole Measures CFS within your community or organization.

Contact: For more information contact Jeanette Abi-Nader at jeanette@foodsecurity.org.
Website: http://

17th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour
April 28-29, 2012
North Carolina

The 17th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour showcases 40 sustainable and organic farms.

Website: http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org

GMOs and Eco-labels: Getting More of the Story
Thursday, May 10, 2012
New York City

The Hunger and Environmental Nutrition (HEN) Special Interest Group of the Greater New York Dietetic Association presents:
“GMOs and Eco-labels: Getting More of the Story”

Website: http://gnyhen.org/

Brooklyn Food Conference
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Brooklyn, NY

Website: http://brooklynfoodcoalition.ning.com/

IX Cuban Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Conference
May 17-29, 2012
Havana, Cuba

The Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forestry Technicians (ACTAF) invites all stakeholders to participate in its IX Meeting of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture on its twenty fifth birthday from the 17th to the 29th of May 2012 in Havana, Cuba. The subject will be "The Agroecological Basis of Sustainable Agriculture."

Website: http://www.actaf.co.cu

LocalFest 2012
May 18-28, 2012
Pinedale, WY

LocalFest 2012 will bring together hundreds of individuals from across the Rocky Mountain West, who are engaged in all aspects of "localness" including local economies, local food and local distribution. The conference includes hands on workshops, keynote speakers, a film festival, and visits to local farms, henhouses and community gardens.

Website: http://sublettelocalfood.org/

ECO City Farms’ Intensive Weekend Certificate Course in Urban Agriculture
May 18-20, 2012
Edmonston, MD

: This 22 hour, very intensive weekend hands-on course taught by the staff of ECO City Farms will provide you with sustainable strategies you require to plan and design an intensive food production system, based on your needs, goals, and resources, and suited to your own individual urban space. It includes five (5) core modules. Starting Your Farm, Composting 101, Hoophouse Design and Construction, Intro to Urban Livestock, Harvest, Processing and Marketing.

Website: http://www.pgcc.edu/owllink

Justice Begins with Seeds
May 19-20, 2012
San Francisco, CA

Contact: Miguel@biosafetyalliance.org
Website: http://

Seventh Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Association for Food Studies
May 26-28, 2012
Waterloo, Ontario

Crossroads for Food Studies: A Fork in the Road?

Website: http://www.foodstudies.ca

Grassroots Herbal and Holistic Wellness Program
May-Oct 2012
Washington, DC

Centro Ashé is excited to offer our six month Grassroots Herbal and Holistic Wellness Program, DC‘s first community based herbal program - we‘re dedicated to putting the knowledge of our local plants in the hands of the people! This program offers our community a chance to explore folk herbalism, the medicine of the people, and to understand natures ability to support our health, strength, and vitality.

Website: http://www.centroashe.org/grassroots-herbal-and-holistic-wellness ...

Climate Change and Sustainable Development Conference
May 30 - June 2, 2012
Tubingen, Germany

The 10th Congress of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics (EurSafe) conference, entitled The Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Ethical Perspectives on Land Use and Food Production, will address the topics of climate change and sustainable development under 4 thematic areas: (1) food production, (2) preservation of natural resources, (3) lifestyles (4) general philosophical and historical issues of climate change, sustainable development and food ethics.

Website: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/einrichtungen/internationales-zentrum ...

Sustainability Across America Bicycle Tour with Urban Permaculture Certification
June 1 - August 31, 2012
Eugene, Oregon to Washington, DC

This three-month intensive course combines our Urban
Permaculture and Regenerative Leadership Certificate training,
followed by a Wilderness First Aid training before we head on
the road cycling from Eugene, Oregon all the way across
America to Washington DC (we’ll be roughly following the
TransAM bike route – about 4200 miles), promoting and
learning about sustainable living and intentional communities.
The stunning places you will visit on this program and the
extraordinary people you will meet will challenge and inspire
you.

Contact: Common Circle Education phone: 1-800-376-3775 web: www.commoncircle.com
Website: http://commoncircle.com/cross-country-bicycle-tour

Food as Medicine
June 7-10, 2012
Washington, DC

Website: http://www.cmbm.org/professional-trainings/food-as-medicine/

2012 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference
June 19-22, 2012
Fort Collins, CO

Rendezvous in the Rockies, hosted by the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, the National AITC Conference will be held in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2012. More than 400 enthusiastic educators and administrators from across the nation will converge to share resources, lessons, and innovations promoting the importance of agriculture in everyone‘s lives. For more conference information see the full conference bulletin online.

Website: http://www.agclassroom.org/conference/pdf/brochure.pdf

Assoc. for Study of Food and Society (ASFS) and Ag Food and Human Values (AFHVS)
June 20-24, 2012
New York City

Global Gateways and Local Connections: Cities, Agriculture, and the Future of Food Systems

Website: http://food-culture.org/conference.php

Annual Conference of the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS)
June 21-24, 2012
Santa Clara, CA

Conference Theme: "Preparing for our Environmental Future"

Website: http://www.aess.info

Society for Nutrition Education
July 14-17, 2012
Washington, DC

Website: http://www.sneb.org/documents/2012_marketing_guide.pdf

School Nutrition Association
July 15-18, 2012
Denver, CO

Website: http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Level2_ANC2012.aspx?id=15698

National Children & Youth Garden Symposium
July 19-21, 2012
Greater Washington DC

Join us for the 2012 National Children & Youth Garden Symposium in the Greater Washington D.C. Area -- coming back to where it all started is the perfect way to celebrate our 20th anniversary and rededicate ourselves to the vital role of gardens in the lives of today‘s youth.

Website: http://www.ahs.org/youth_gardening/national_youth_garden_symposiu ...

LOCAL SOLUTION TO INEQUALITY
July 26-29, 2012
Chicago, IL

The 75th ANNUAL MEETING
RURAL SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY
LOCAL SOLUTION TO INEQUALITY

Website: http://www.ruralsociology.us

Farm to Cafeteria Conference
August 2-5, 2012
Burlington, VT

Farm to Cafeteria is Digging In! Whether you are new to the movement or have years of wisdom to share, the 6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In! is a great opportunity to network, build skills and get energized!

Website: http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org/6/

ACGA Annual Conference
August 9-12, 2012
San Francisco, CA

Community Gardening On the Cutting Edge

Website: http://communitygarden.org/learn/training/annual-conference/index ...

Growing Power‘s National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference
September 7-9, 2012
Milwaukee, WI

International conference small farms in urban and rural areas.

Website: http://www.growingpowerfarmconference.org

Food + Justice = Democracy - Organizing to change the food system
September 24-26, 2012
Minneapolis, MN

The conference will highlight the narratives tribal nations and communities of color as a foundation to understand the impact of the food system on people of color. These narrative will provide the framework to create solidarity and mobilize for changes in public policies that impact food, labor and land issues that have been the source of historic displacement and exploitation.

Website: http://www.iatp.org

American Public Health Association Annual Meeting
October 27-31, 2012
San Francisco, CA

The theme of this year‘s conference is Prevention and Wellness Across the Lifespan.

Website: http://www.apha.org/meetings/AnnualMeeting/

111th AAA Annual Meeting
November 14-18, 2012
San Francisco, CA

The 2012 AAA Annual Meeting in San Francisco offers the perfect venue for thinking about border crossings across time, space, embodied differences, language and culture.

Website: http://www.aaanet.org/meetings/

National Young Farmers Conference
December 6-7, 2012
Tarrytown, NY

Website: http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/our-work/young-farmers-initiative ...

Childhood Obesity Conference
June 18-20, 2013
Long Beach, CA

Website: http://www.childhood-obesity.net/

Funds for Community Gardens

The Kansas Community Gardens Project Application
Deadline: Thursday, March 01, 2012
For: Kansas

Grant funds are available to start 60 new community gardens in Kansas at up to $5,000 each. Twenty grants will be awarded each year for three years.

Website: http://www.kansascommunitygardens.org/uploads/1/0/4/3/10432691/ks ...

2012 Mantis Awards for Community and Youth Gardens
Deadline: Thursday, March 01, 2012
Each year, Mantis presents the Mantis Awards to charitable and educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life in their host communities. NGA selects 25 outstanding applicants to receive Mantis tiller/cultivators. Any nonprofit garden program may apply. In the past, winners have included schools, churches, correctional facilities, parks departments, youth camps, community gardens, and many others. These are groups turning slim resources into bountiful gardens with far-reaching benefits, from increasing their community‘s access to fresh nutritious foods to educating the public about the importance of gardening in our nation‘s history.

Website: http://www.kidsgardening.org/grants/2012-mantis-awards-community- ...

Walmart Foundation
Deadline: Friday, March 02, 2012
For: National

Through the State Giving Program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations with programs that align with their mission to create opportunities so people can live better. The State Giving Program awards grants starting at $25,000 to nonprofit organizations that serve a particular state or region.

Website: http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8168.aspx?p=8979

New Jersey Conservation Innovation Grants
Deadline: Friday, March 02, 2012
For: New Jersey

New Jersey NRCS requests applications for the state Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications from eligible individuals, non-federal government and non-government organizations for projects located in New Jersey between one and three years in duration will be considered for the statewide competitive grants process. Grants up to $75,000 are offered for eligible projects within the state. NRCS-NJ anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2012 will be approximately $216,000.

Website: http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/index.html

Warner Grant for Sustainable Agriculture On-Farm Research with OSU
Deadline: Friday, March 02, 2012
For: Ohio

The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Sustainable Agriculture Team and Agroecosystems Management Program (AMP) are offering interdisciplinary grants to promote on-farm research in sustainable agriculture. This program is made available through the Paul C. and Edna H. Warner Endowment Fund. Proposals must focus on production systems for crops or livestock for human consumption, and must involve a team of OSU and non-university collaborators, specifically including farmers. Grants are for up to $5,000 for one year.

Website: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/amp/pageview.asp?id=2555

Everybody at the Table for Health (EAT4Health)
Deadline: Friday, March 02, 2012
The Praxis Project is proud to announce the call for Letters of Interest for
Everybody at the Table for Health (EAT4Health), a national leadership
development initiative of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation. EAT4Health will
build and leverage the strengths of grassroots organizations alongside the
expertise of DC-based national organizations to foster a more informed,
inclusive, and powerful advocacy process for food and farm policies that serve
the goals of good health, environmental sustainability, and economic justice
for all.

Website: http://www.EAT4Healthpartners.org

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)
Deadline: Friday, March 09, 2012
On January 17, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), which provides grants to academic, private, and non-profit research institutions to investigate research issues related to organic production. Approximately $19 million is available for funding research projects

Website: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=JnLmPV3bCwMLXxn ...

Conservation Partners
Deadline: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Conservation Partners provides grants to support habitat conservation professionals providing technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other private landowners to optimize wildlife habitat conservation on private lands. The program is a partnership between NRCS, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and others. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, educational institutions, tribal governments, and state or local units of governments.

Website: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/02/00 ...

Communities Take Root
Deadline: Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and Dreyer‘s Fruit Bars are planting orchards across the country and your town could be next! We 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. In 2011, twenty communities won large orchards through an online vote process for public parks, community gardens, food banks, and homeless shelters. In 2012, we’ll do it again! And this year, the first 100 qualified applicants will receive a starter orchard of three fruit trees, guaranteed, just for participating!

Website: http://www.ftpf.org/application.doc

Kansas Savor the Season Program
Deadline: Thursday, March 15, 2012
For: Kansas

Through Kansas Rural Center‘s "Savor the Season" Program, both farmers markets and producers can receive funding and other assistance for promoting specialty crops. Savor the Season offers mini-grants up to $250 targeted at new or smaller markets interested in testing a special events program. For markets with existing special events programs, cost-shares will match up to $400 for specialty crop promotions.

Website: http://www.kansasruralcenter.org/news.html#120203

City of Columbus and Franklin County Community Garden Grants
Deadline: Friday, March 16, 2012
For: Columbus, OH

Recognizing the many benefits of community gardens, the City of Columbus and Franklin County have partnered with Fifth Third Bank and The Columbus Foundation to support existing gardens and encourage the creation of new ones.

Website: http://columbusfoundation.org/grants/columbus-foundation/city-of- ...

Lowes and Keep America Beautiful
Deadline: Friday, March 16, 2012
For: National

Lowe‘s Charitable and Educational Foundation has announced the creation of the Lowe‘s/Keep America Beautiful Community Improvement Grants. The program will award $900,000 in grants to Keep America Beautiful Affiliates and participating organizations for community improvement projects to be completed in 2012.

Website: http://www.kab.org

Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP)
Deadline: Friday, March 23, 2012
The grant program, administered by USDA‘s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is designed to boost market research projects funded by state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations and other state agencies.

Website: http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/02/07/apply-within-matching-grants-to- ...

Virginia Farm and Ranchland Protection Program
Deadline: Friday, March 30, 2012
For: Virginia

Virginia NRCS Farm and Ranchland Protection Program can provide matching funds to entities acquiring easements on prime farmland or land containing significant cultural or historic resources. Eligible partners include private land trusts, local governments, state agencies, or any combination of these.

Website: http://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/easements.html

EQIP Organic Initiative Application Period 2
Deadline: Friday, March 30, 2012
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 2012 Organic Initiative provides financial assistance to implement conservation practices, assisting organic producers in meeting their resource concerns and fulfilling requirements of an Organic System Plan. Applications for the EQIP Organic Initiative are accepted on a continuous basis throughout the fiscal year; however, USDA‘s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has established specific dates when eligible applications will be evaluated, ranked, and approved for funding

Website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/prog ...

Healthy Breakfast 4 Kids Grant Program
Deadline: Saturday, March 31, 2012
For: United States

Who May Apply: Schools

The Healthy Breakfast-4-Kids (HB4K) goal is to create and improve access to breakfast in schools nationwide as a means to lessen the huge negative impact of hungry children across our nation.

Amount: $2500
Website: http://www.foodfamilyfarming.org/html/grants.html

Healthy and Humane Farm Funds
Deadline: Sunday, April 01, 2012
Food Animal Concerns Trust‘s Healthy & Humane Farm Funds Project will provide small grants to qualifying humane farmers who need assistance in improving the welfare of their farm animals. They will award grants for projects that (1) help farms transition to pasture-based systems, (2) improve the marketing of their humane products, or (3) more generally enrich the conditions in which farm animals are raised. FACT is committed to funding at least five farms each year, with the anticipated grant size of ranging from $500 to $1,500 per farm.

Website: http://www.humanefarmfunds.org/

North Face
Deadline: Friday, April 06, 2012
For: National

The North Face Explore Fund supports organizations that encourage youth outdoor participation, focusing primarily on creating more connections of children to nature, increasing access to both front & backcountry recreation, as well as providing education for both personal & environmental health.

Website: http://www.explorefund.org

2012 Neighborhood Partnership Grants Program
Deadline: Sunday, December 16, 2012
For: Franklin County, OH

The Columbus Foundation, United Way of Central Ohio, PNC, Bob Evans, and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation are pleased to announce the 2012 Neighborhood Partnership Grants Program (NPG). The program is designed to support neighborhood organizations and improvements in low- and moderate-income areas of Franklin County. Projects should be designed to be resident driven and are not required to be large or sophisticated for grant consideration. The maximum grant award is $10,000. The average grant award in the 2011 NPG program was $3,700.

Website: http://www.columbusfoundation.org

The Culinary Trust: Chefs move to school
Deadline: ONGOING
The Chefs Move to Schools Grant provides funds for culinary professionals to help our children eat right by teaching them about food, nutrition and cooking. Funds can be used from garden to table: culinary professionals may seek funding for any program that promotes health and wellness in schools. For example, the grant may be used to plant a garden, teach a class, promote or create a wellness program for students or parents or assist in creating a school curriculum that focuses on healthy eating. In order to qualify the grant applicant must have the support of the school principal and, in some cases, additional school personnel.

Website: http://www.theculinarytrust.org/#!chefs-move-to-school

GRO1000 Grassroots Grants
Deadline: OPEN
Who May Apply: Garden and green space beautification projects that incorporate the involvement and engagement of neighborhood residents and foster a sense of community spirit. Applications are invited from U.S. organizations with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and from groups and projects with an eligible nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has established GRO1000, a commitment to install 1,000 gardens and green spaces in the United States and select international sites by 2018.

Amount: $1,500 consisting of in-kind and monetary contributions
Website: http://thescottsmiraclegrocompany.com/GRO1000/index.html

Open Spaces Sacred Places National Awards Program for Integrated Research and Design Projects‘
Deadline: OPEN
The final phase of the Open Spaces Sacred Places National Awards Program for Integrated Research and Design Projects‘ Request for Proposals will be released February 1, 2012. The program was enacted in 2 phases, a Planning Grant Phase, now closed, followed by an open call for proposals. Final Awards will fund significant new sacred public green spaces that demonstrate a combination of high quality design-build and rigorous research about user impacts. The total funding pool available is $4 million. Funding will be provided to cross-disciplinary teams that are able to 1) conceptualize, plan, design and implement an open and sacred green space, 2) conduct associated research study(ies), and 3) communicate scientific findings.

Website: http://www.openspacessacredplaces.org/

Donors Choose
Deadline: OPEN
Public school teachers post classroom project requests and interested individuals sign on as sponsors.

Amount: Sponsor may give any amount to a project.
Website: http://www.donorschoose.org

Communities Take Root
Deadline: OPEN
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water.

FTPF and Dreyer‘s Fruit Bars are planting orchards across the country in a collaborative program called Communities Take Root (CTR). Through this exciting program, communities compete in a nation-wide vote to win a complete community orchard. FTPF orchards are a wonderful way for communities to grow fresh fruit for the community, beautify neighborhoods, strengthen relationships, and build community food security - all through the simple act of planting fruit trees.

We are now inviting applications for 2012. The first 100 qualified applicants will be in the running to win a free orchard, including orchard design, arborist expertise, and a fun community planting event. And, orchard recipients also receive a free community workshop on planting, pruning and caring for fruit trees.

Website: http://www.communitiestakeroot.com

OCIA Research & Education Micro Grants
Deadline: OPEN
OCIA International (Organic Crop Improvement Association) offers grants in the range of $300 to $1,500 for organic research, organic education, and other ideas supporting organic agriculture. Projects must benefit multiple producers, processors and/or consumers. There may be limitations on the number of grants given within any one region.

Website: http://www.ocia.org/RE/MicroGrant.aspx

Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund
Deadline: OPEN
For: Vermont

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has partnered with the Vermont Community Foundation to create the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund (VFDRF), which will assist Vermont farms that sustained damage from Tropical Storm Irene. The relief fund will pool contributions from donors and will make grants directly to farmers affected by the storm. The Community Foundation and Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Ross will work together, in consultation with local organizations, to distribute the funds, which will be used by farmers to replace infrastructure as well as help cover losses sustained from the storm.

Website: http://www.vermontagriculture.com/

Albertsons
Deadline: OPEN
For: National

Albertsons supports non-profit, 501(c)(3) organizations whose primary mission fits the following focus areas:

Hunger Relief

Ending hunger in local communities is core to the charitable mission. They support organizations providing comprehensive hunger relief programming and food distribution.

Health and Nutrition

They fund organizations promoting nutrition education and maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet.

Environmental Stewardship

Albertsons is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable operations and will support local efforts towards sustainability.

Website: http://www.albertsons.com/about/community.jsp

Simply Organic 1% Fund
Deadline: OPEN
The Simply Organic 1% fund supports and promotes the growth of organic and sustainable agriculture. They support research into organic production methods and crop improvement; educating farmers on organic growing techniques, certification standards and documentation; educating the public on the value of organic agriculture; developing projects that help organic farmers to be more efficient, produce better products, and add value to their products. Electronic applications may be submitted.

Website: http://www.simplyorganicfoods.com/simplyorganic/ourvalues/applyin ...

Awesome Foundation‘s Food chapter
Deadline: OPEN
The Awesome Foundation‘s Food chapter is now taking applications for its $1,000 microgrants to further food awesomessness in the universe. Apply at Awesome Foundation and submit under "Food" category. Every month, one microgrant will be given for an awesome idea involving food, be it urban farming, food truck, recipe collects, pop-up cafes, or health. The more inventive the better.

Website: http://awesomefoundation.org/submissions/new

Healthy Living Grants, Cabot Creamery
Deadline: OPEN
Who May Apply: Schools with matching funds seeking to improve kids‘ health through exercise, nutrition and/or information.

Cabot is an enthusiastic supporter of our communities‘ efforts to improve our kids‘ health through exercise, better nutrition and lots of fun knowledge. Cabot created the matching grant process to encourage schools to reach out to their own local businesses, cooperatives, parent clubs and others. Doing this supports sustainability for the initiative, provides awareness about a school‘s new healthy living idea and encourages participation by community members.

Website: http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/community_and_you/school_grants ...

ACGA Member Discounts and Partnerships

Gardener‘s Supply Company

Nonprofit gardeners may call our Commercial Accounts number: 888-511-2132 for up to 25% discount on orders.

GoodSearch.com

GoodSearch.com is a company that helps non-profits like ours raise funds through the everyday actions of our supporters. Here is how you can help:

Use http://www.goodsearch.com/ when you search the internet – they will donate a penny to us every time you do.

Use http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx when you shop online – they work with more than 2,500 major brands, have over 100,000 coupons and donate a percentage of every purchase you make to us

Enroll in the https://www.goodsearch.com/gooddining.aspx they will donate up to 6% of every dollar you spend when you eat at one of 10,000 participating restaurants

Please join our community http://www.goodsearch.com/ and help us raise money for ACGA’s mission.

Kroger Community Rewards

Kroger is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other non-profit organizations will earn millions of dollars through our Community Rewards Program. If you live in Ohio, Michigan or West Virginia, please register online. ACGA’s organization number is 80844.

Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply

Our garden friends at Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply, a long time promoter of sustainable and organic seeds and agricultural supplies, have given ACGA members a gift for the 2012 growing season. Peaceful Valley Farm Supply offers a 10% discount on first-tier items featured in the main catalogue. For larger purchases (generally 10 or more of the same item) there is 5% off second-tier pricing. A few items are exempt from this offer. To start your discount, please fax (530-272-4794) a copy of your American Community Gardening Association membership card. A discount will be subtracted from each order, and your card will be on file.

ARTichoke T-Shirt Company

ACGA is please to announce a partnership with ARTichoke T-Shirt Company. ARTichoke will donate 10% of their profits to ACGA. All ARTichoke‘s tee‘s are hand printed with water based ink for the best eco-friendly choice. Every T-shirt purchased benefits ACGA!

Support ACGA This Year

As we plan our spring gardens and follow up with new friends and old that we met through community gardening this summer, now is a great time to find ways to support the ACGA in 2012!

Join ACGA or renew your membership
Tell a friend about ACGA
Invite fellow gardeners to join ACGA
Participate in a teleconference or conference
Make a donation to support the work of ACGA
Encourage colleagues to attend the August 2012 ACGA Conference

Click on http://communitygarden.org/support-us/ to learn more!

Contact Information

ACGA Staff:
Beth Urban, Executive Director
Laura Lavid, Programs Manager
Vicki Garrett, Project Coordinator
Barbara Love, AARP Administrative Assistant

Email: info@communitygarden.org
ACGA Toll Free number: 877.ASK.ACGA (275.2242)
Website: http://communitygarden.org

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