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One of the great things about living in Arizona is that you can garden almost all year round.  With an average of 300 sunny days each year, gardeners of all types can put their green thumb to good use growing vegetables, flowers, fruits, and foliage.  The abundance of opportunity to grow things means we also have access to a wide range of resources to help our gardens grow.

Here are a few opportunities for garden grants, resources on gardening in Arizona, and information on community gardening for those with all different colored thumbs.

Garden Grants

Home Depot Youth Garden Grants

This garden grant program is celebrating its 30^th year and is open to K-12 teachers, educators, coordinators, and parents. The grant requires that the gardening program includes at least 15 children ages 3-18 and is available in all states.  Programs that focus on integrating gardening with the curriculum, educating on nutrition and the plant-to-food connection, raising awareness about environmental issues, fostering entrepreneurship, or the social benefits of gardening will be given priority in the selection process.  The program will award 95 $500 grants and 5 $1,000 grants.  Deadline to apply is November 28, 2011.  For more information visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/grants-and-awards.

Subaru Healthy Sprouts

This garden grant program is open to K-12 teachers, educators, coordinators, and parents and requires that the gardening program includes at least 15 children ages 3-18.  Ideal for programs that focus on integrating the gardening program with education about environmental, nutritional, and hunger issues in the classroom.  The program will award 50 $500 grants.  Deadline to apply is November 30, 2011.  For more information visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/grants/2011-subaru-healthy-sprouts-award.

Annie’s Naturals

This garden grant program is open to schools, community gardens, and other community programs that connect children with real food.  Funds can be used to purchase tools, seeds, and other gardening supplies.  Programs must focus on school/community gardens or sustainable agriculture to be eligible.  Deadline to apply is November 30, 2011.  For more information visit http://www.annies.com/grants_for_gardens

Mantis Tiller Grants

This garden grant program is open to any non-profit gardening program including schools, community gardens, and parks.   The program will award 25 programs with a new Mantis Tiller/Cultivator with border/edger and kickstand, and their choice of gas-powered 2-cycle engine or electric motor (total value: $349.00).  Tiller cannot be used as a prize for fundraising.  Deadline to apply is March, 2012.  For more information visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/grants/2012-mantis-awards-community-and-youth-gardens.

Gardening Resources

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

Seed Trade Association of Arizona

Arizona Nursery Association

National Gardening Association

Community Gardening Resources

Agritopia is a community made up of homes, urban agriculture, and businesses integrated together in a single design.

The Neighborhood Gardens Association is based in Philadelphia but offers great resources on how to start your own program.

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