Sprout Without Spending
Anne Arundel County blooms with the help of Unity Gardens twice a year. This non-profit organization raises money to helps community groups with twice-yearly grants to green their spaces. The new cycle to apply for grants up to $1,000 runs from July 1 through August 31. So act now or wait until January.
Since 2003, Unity Gardens has funded 200 local garden spots, helping groups from neighborhood associations to scout troops to schools green their spaces with native plants. Grants go to over two dozen community groups each year. Unity’s recent gardens include Anne Arundel Lodge’s Serenity Garden, Spa Creek Conservatory’s rainwater management garden for Koons Ford and many more.
This year Unity Gardens is urging schools to apply for grants to create outdoor classrooms, using gardens as aids to education. The Feed a Healthy Mind garden at Germantown Elementary teaches students about nutrition, native plants and planting. Arnold Elementary has a meditation garden for students. Both were planted with Unity funding.
The cycle has started; time is ticking to write your grants. Unity Gardens now has an online application (unitygardens.org). You’ll find helpful information to guide you through the process online as well as staffers glad to help through emails and phone calls.
If you’ve got a project in mind, start with a call or email: 410-703-7530; [email protected].