School Garden Caretaker Grant

The School Garden Caretaker Grant is administered by the Maine School Garden Network, with funding support from the Sewall Foundation beginning in 2023. The Maine School Garden Network is an organization dedicated to advancing garden-based education across the state by supporting educators, schools, and community members who use gardens as hands-on learning environments. This grant program reflects the organization’s broader mission to strengthen school garden programs and ensure their sustainability through dedicated staffing and support. The continuation of funding through at least 2027 demonstrates an ongoing commitment to addressing gaps in compensation for individuals managing these programs. The primary purpose of the School Garden Caretaker Grant is to provide financial support to individuals responsible for maintaining and facilitating school garden programs in Maine. These programs serve as outdoor classrooms where students engage in experiential learning related to agriculture, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. Survey data from the Maine School Garden Network indicates that a significant portion of school garden coordinators are unpaid or underpaid, which can limit program effectiveness and sustainability. The grant seeks to address this issue by providing a fixed stipend of 2000 dollars to support the work of designated caretakers. Funding is specifically intended to compensate the School Garden Caretaker for their labor and contributions to the program. Awarded funds must be used within one year of receipt and cannot be diverted to other programmatic or operational expenses. The grant allows flexibility in payment distribution, as applicants may choose whether funds are disbursed directly to the caretaker or to the affiliated school. This flexibility accommodates varying administrative structures across school systems while maintaining the central goal of compensating the individual responsible for the garden. Eligibility for the grant is restricted to schools located within the state of Maine. Applicants must demonstrate that they have an existing school garden program, regardless of size or level of development, and must maintain a current or updated listing in the Maine School Garden Network Garden Directory. Additionally, applications must include documented support from a school colleague in the form of a letter, confirming institutional backing for the program. A critical requirement is that a designated School Garden Caretaker must already be in place or identified at the time of application. Schools that received this grant in 2023, 2024, or 2025 are not eligible to reapply, ensuring broader distribution of funding opportunities. The application process opens annually in June and closes on August 30. Applicants are expected to prepare and submit all required materials within this window, including proof of eligibility criteria and supporting documentation. There is no indication of a pre-application or letter of intent phase; therefore, submission consists of a single application stage. Following the review process, applicants are notified of their status in September, allowing for timely disbursement of funds and program implementation during the academic year. Award recipients are required to complete a final grant report by October 1 of the following year. This report must include three images documenting the garden program and a signed photo release form, which may be used for promotional or reporting purposes at the Maine School Garden Network Annual Meeting. The reporting requirement ensures accountability and provides qualitative evidence of program impact. The overall grant cycle supports a one-year performance period, aligning with the academic calendar and seasonal nature of garden programming. The grant operates on a recurring annual cycle, with funding confirmed through at least 2027. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the Maine School Garden Network via their general information email, while inquiries about funding the program itself are handled by a designated development manager. This structured yet accessible approach supports both applicants and stakeholders, reinforcing the program’s role in sustaining educational garden initiatives across Maine.