SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM: PROVIDING “SEED” MONEY FOR CLASSROOMS
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Mark Mechling
Extension Educator, Agriculturre and Natrual Resources
Ohio State University Extension
ZANESVILLE
Abstract
Mechling, M.W.\r\n\r\nExtension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Muskingum County, Zanesville, Ohio 43701\r\n\r\n The Muskingum County Master Gardeners initiated a program in 2004 that provided monetary grants to county classroom teachers for horticultural projects. Teachers can apply for grants up to $100 from the Master Gardener organization to teach horticultural practices and principles. To date, seventy-one teachers have been provided a total of $6,703 in the past seven school years. The process begins with a school grant application sent in the winter to all county schools. Interested teachers complete the application that includes objectives, the educational value of the project and the cost of materials to complete the project. A committee of Master Gardeners reviews the applications and submits their recommendations on which applications should be funded to the entire organization’s membership. Those applications are approved and the teachers are notified if their applications have been successful or not. One or two Master Gardeners are assigned to each project as a resource. They are available to assist the teacher in completing the project if needed. Teachers are expected to share their results of the project with the Master Gardeners by the end of the school year. Examples of projects and topics funded by the Master Gardeners have included establishing a butterfly and pollinator garden, purchasing grow-lights to conduct experiments on fertilizer and light, raising a pizza garden, growing vegetables in raised beds, conducting field trips to orchards and greenhouses, purchasing butterfly kits and starting a Junior garden club. Teachers have integrated the horticultural activities into their curriculum. As a result of these grants, students in seventy-one classrooms have learned about horticultural principles and practices in an active and practical manner. Funding for the grants has been raised from a unique community activity called Earth to Art that combines pottery and flowers.
Authors: Mechling, M.
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Mechling, M. Extension Educator, Agriculturre And Natrual Resources, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43701