Gateway Greening | FAQs: Kids Garden Fresh Grant

FAQs: Kids Garden Fresh Grant

Who does Gateway Greening support through the Kids Garden Fresh Grant?

Gateway Greening Inc. (GGI) supports youth gardens that focus on educating youth through garden- based curricula in a variety of subjects for all ages. The typical youth garden is run by school staff. However, there are examples of other types of groups such as parent teacher organizations, church groups, child care providers, after school programs, and not-for-profit organizations that facilitate educational garden activities and are eligible to receive gardening support through the Kids Garden Fresh Program.

What types of organizations are eligible?

Located in St. Louis City or St. Louis County;
Serving children or youth, 60% of whom qualify for or receive free or reduced lunch
A youth-focused program serving youth up to age 19

A school: A public school; or A private or independent school.

What type of support will the garden receive if we are awarded?

GGI does not award monies. The initial support a garden receives is start up materials, which can include:

Raised beds including soil
Compost and mulch
Garden tools
Season extension items, such as materials for hoop houses and cold frames
Produce scale
Garden Sign
Curricula or gardening books

Gateway Greening also provides ongoing support including access to:

A professional development series aimed at educators with a variety of gardening skills
Gateway Greening’s education library
Volunteer groups
Free compost and mulch delivery through St. Louis Forestry department (for city residents only)
Opportunity to receive free ornamental plant through an annual event called Great Perennial Divide
Site visits from Gateway Greening staff
Access to services from Bell Garden

What is Bell Garden?

Bell Garden is Gateway Greening’s main demonstration garden. It is open to the public every Saturday 9am to 12pm from March through November and provides the following services:

From 9am to noon, seeds and seedlings are available, for free to Gateway Greening supported Youth Gardens and for a reduced price to Community and non-Gateway Greening school gardens.
Compost and mulch pick up is available on a first- come, first-serve basis.
Garden tools and lawn maintenance items (lawn mowers, weed trimmers) are available to be checked out for a two week period with a $20 deposit.

Gateway Greening’s Community Educator presents weekly workshops on a variety of gardening topics at Bell Garden. All Gateway Greening supported gardens will receive an e-mail notice each week about the classes and plant material (seeds and seedlings) available to youth gardens.

What is the Great Perennial Divide?

The Great Perennial Divide is an annual event in which gardeners throughout St. Louis donate perennials to be distributed to youth and community gardens. Youth Gardens may sign up to receive ornamental perennials through this event in March every year.

What is your timeline for awarding a garden grant?

Grant applications are available on January 1st and are due on May 1st.
During May, June, and July Gateway Greening employees and Master Gardener volunteers schedule a site visit and evaluate potential garden projects. This is a critical time for potential gardens to get all of the people who will support the project together so that the evaluation team can learn about the group, their roles and responsibilities in the garden project, and how the garden will be integrated into the youth organization or school.
Official announcements will be made in late July.
An award ceremony for awarded gardens will be held on July 26^th at Bell Garden
Garden installations will be scheduled for after August 6th

What happens if our group is awarded?

Groups that are awarded are encouraged to attend the Gateway Greening Youth Garden Grant Award Ceremony. A representative will sign a gardening agreement with Gateway Greening and a time will be scheduled for the garden installation. On the actual installation day a Gateway Greening staff member will assist your garden’s volunteers in constructing the garden. A typical installation involves screwing together the raised beds and filling the beds with dirt. Have students and volunteers present and prepared to help with the installation.

What are the requirements of having a youth garden?

Youth Garden Leaders must agree to maintain the gardening space including during the summer. All Youth Gardens are expected to keep records of educational activities that take place in the garden on a tracking sheet provided by Gateway Greening. All produce that is taken from the garden is expected to be weighed and records of produce weights are to be submitted on a monthly basis.

What are the expectations of a youth garden leader?

The Youth Garden leader serves as Gateway Greening’s primary contact with the garden and will be responsible for meeting Gateway Greening Staff during site visits. The Youth Garden leader is also expected to attend five Gateway Greening-led workshops which will occur on a monthly basis. School gardens are asked to submit a lesson plan from each teacher who uses the garden at the end of their second year of gardening. The lesson plans will be used to create a compilation of school garden lessons from St. Louis teachers. The garden leader must also submit a pre and post survey about their gardening knowledge.

If we have been awarded a grant from Gateway Greening before are we eligible to apply again?

Yes, you may apply every year for an expansion to your garden project provided you have submitted all evaluation paperwork and fulfilled the expectations laid out in the grant.

We are a nonprofit organization/church group/group of parent volunteers interested in starting a school garden. What kind of support do we need from school staff?

There are many examples of outside groups/organizations that help facilitate garden education at schools. To be awarded, Gateway Greening must see evidence of collaboration and active participation from both the staff and the outside organization. It will also be important that the group shows a long- term commitment to the school.

How can I show that I have legal access to the land?

In most cases the school owns the land where youth gardens are placed. If the garden is not on school property please submit a lease, Memorandum of Understanding, Land Reutilization Authority agreement, or letter which indicates that your group will be able to use the land. Please check with school authorities to see if field trip forms will be require for using a garden off school property.

How can I gain access to a Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) lot?

St. Louis City LRA currently maintains approximately 8,000 lots, and many of Gateway Greening supported gardens lease vacant lots from LRA. To see if a lot is owned by LRA or to find a lot in your area you can visit the St. Louis City LRA website.

How do I get my soil tested?

Testing soil for lead is important if you are planning on growing produce in an in-ground garden. Soil samples can be sent to the University of Missouri Extension soil testing lab. Go to the University of Missouri Extension Soil Lab Page for more information.