Preschool Garden Grants

Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education for Preschoolers

With the support of a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, Western Growers Foundation will work with the California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division to provide $100,000 to support garden enhanced nutrition education. 

Funds will be awarded through a competitive grant process to 100 child care centers and preschools in California who participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.  Each awardee will receive $1,000 for the development of their garden enhanced nutrition education program.  The awarded funds may be spent on garden equipment, garden and educational supplies, and professional development.

This project will provide California's youngest students with nutrition education experiences in gardens that include planting, harvesting, and eating the fruits and vegetables they have grown.  

 A preschool garden resource directory will be developed by WGF as part of this project and will be available upon the project's completion in 2013.  

Grant applications for this project must be submitted online no later than 5:00 pm (PST) on Thursday, June 30, 2011.

Grant winners will be notified no later than December 31, 2011.

If you have any questions, please contact Paula Olson at paula.olson@wga.com.

Thank you.