Whole Foods to Offer Garden Grants for Schools

Whole Kids Foundation, in partnership with FoodCorps, is accepting online grant applications for its first major initiative, the School Garden Grant Program. Schools in Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake are eligible to participate in the program.

It will be funded by a six-week, in-store donation drive at all Whole Foods Market stores, including the one in . Donations will also be accepted online at wholekidsfoundation.org through Sept. 30.

The garden grant program, the foundation and FoodCorps will offer $2,000 grants, along with curriculum, resources and mentorship, to 1,000 schools. 

FoodCorps’ expertise in gardening and its ongoing support will help schools build and sustain their gardens to ensure long-term success. All schools and garden-related nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for grants to support the launch or expansion of school gardens.

“We’re excited about the possibility of installing a garden in one of the schools in our area,” said Kubeshini Moodley, Marketing Team Leader for Whole Foods Market Johns Creek.

“It really feeds into our mission of educating our customers, and where better to start than with students who can learn by growing their own food? They’ll realize that food doesn’t come out of a bag; it starts with a seed in the ground that they can nurture into something delicious and healthy.”

From now through September, shoppers can donate to the project at store checkouts or online. Each grant recipient will also receive a copy of “How to Grow a School Garden” by Arden Bucklin-Sporer and Rachel Pringle, and a digital garden kit that includes an online resource center, discounts for gardening supplies from various partners, and ongoing opportunities for mentoring and support from FoodCorps. 

The Foundation will accept grant applications through Dec. 31, and recipients will be notified in February 2012.