The Missoula chapter of 1000 New Gardens is seeking to install 1,000 new home gardens in the Missoula area at no expense to the owner or renter who will use the garden. The purpose of this goal involves the establishment of nutritional security for the Missoula community. In addition, the communal aspect of gardening in Missoula serves to bring individuals together while maintaining the productivity of some of the nation's best agricultural land. 1000 New Gardens celebrated its 100th garden this spring after only two years of work. All work is provided by volunteers.
Further funding will be used in three ways:
1. Improve the coffee-to-compost project: Coffee-to-Compost is a service provided by volunteers with bikes and bike trailers to coffee shops. Volunteers pick up coffee grounds in buckets and take them to a central composting site. 1000 New Gardens receives some revenue from this by charging for a waste removal service. Further funding would allow the group to expand this program enabling the group to incorporate a greater number of coffee shops which would increase revenue and increase the amount of compost available for garden installations.
2. Leaf Composting Bins: 1000 New Gardens uses leaves as a part of garden installation. These leaves are collected throughout the city before garden installation days. Funding would allow the construction of large leaf bins to provide a central leaf composting site. In the fall, the group would also rake resident's leaves for a small fee. This would be a source of income and additional compost.
3. Greenhouse: Currently 1000 New Gardens installs a garden, but residents must provide their own seed or vegetable starts. Funding would allow the construction of a greenhouse to enable the group to provide new gardeners with starts. Land has already been cleared and designated as a potential spot for a greenhouse on the property of a 1000 New Gardens volunteer and community member. The greenhouse would he heated using a combination of manure composting and propane. Use of manure, which can be obtained for free around Missoula, will greatly reduce the cost of the greenhouse during the winter. Greenhouse space will be used to grow starts to give to new gardeners at no charge. To subsidize these free starts, we will designate some of the greenhouse space to a vegetable start CSA where community members can purchase a certain number of starts at the beginning of the season. The CSA price will be on a sliding scale dependent upon income.
Home gardening increases awareness about the importance of the Missoula soil and its ability to be agriculturally productive. The communal aspect of gardening created by group garden installation days and a gardening blog where gardeners can communicate and connect promotes a sense of community within Missoula.
The green grants contest is designed to give a boost to the green economy. We want to draw attention to projects that are doing a great job of combining social justice with environmental responsibility, and reward them with a grant toward their work.
What kind of groups are eligible?
If the project is good for both people and the planet and a $1,000 or $2,500 grant could make a difference to them – you should nominate the group. The group is not required to be a nonprofit organization or have 501c(3) status.
Will you be contacting my nominee?
If your nominee makes it into our top-ten, we will contact them to let them know. We'll work with the ten nominees to get a full description of their projects on our Web site for the round of top-ten voting.
What kind of projects are you talking about?
Here are some examples: Maybe a local school could use a green-grant for its organic garden project. Maybe a local pro-bicycling non-profit organization wants to extend its reach into the inner city. Maybe a local solar-installation business wants to make a commitment to provide job-training. Really, we're looking forward to seeing what you report to us. We're excited about publicizing good news about the green economy and rewarding good green projects.
When will the grants be given?
The nomination period runs through June 7. The top-ten voting runs through June 30. We'll publicize the winners and disburse the grants shortly after that. We'll also keep up with the winners and profile the great ways that they use their "green grants."
How else will the nominees benefit?
We'll list all the nominees (not just the top ten) on our Web site with links to their work. This will become an honor roll of organizations doing great green work in their communities, bringing together social justice and environmental health. People from all over the country will see their work and have an opportunity to link to it.
How are the top ten nominees chosen?
Top ten nominees will be chosen by Green America staff.
How are the green grants funded?
A generous Green America donor provides these funds for us to disburse to other groups as we see fit. This year, we decided to invite you to help us decide who receives these grants.
