The National Gardening Association last week announced the 2009 Mantis Adopt a School Garden Program. Funded by a grant from Southampton, Pa.-based Mantis, 10 schools in the Greater Philadelphia area will be selected to receive technical assistance, horticultural and garden education consultation, a $600 Adopt a School Garden Kit and a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator or Mantis ComposT-Twin Composter to help lay the foundation for the garden program.
“Horticultural science feeds the curiosity in all of us," said Linda Beattie, donations coordinator at Mantis. "Through a school gardening program, students will learn how flowers grow and where fruits and vegetables come from, but in reality these are valuable lessons in our ecosystem, the environment, our climate, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and much, much more. Gardening feeds the mind, body, and spirit unlike any other subject of study and we are excited to team up with the National Gardening Association in bringing these integral life-cycle lessons to schools in the tri-state area.”
Elementary, middle, and high schools with outdoor garden programs located in the Greater Philadelphia area including Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to programs focusing on nutrition and sustainability. Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 6, and award winners will be announced during the 2009 Philadelphia Flower show the first week of March. For full details and to download an application, visit http://www.kidsgardening.org/grants.asp.
NGA's flagship Adopt a School Garden program bridges the gap between schools lacking resources and people who have the ability to help. School garden programs boost achievement, cultivate life skills, contribute to healthy lifestyles, and connect kids with nature through hands-on learning. To learn more, visit http://assoc.garden.org/ag/asg/.
Founded in 1973, South Burlington, Vt.-based NGA is a national nonprofit leader in plant-based education, respected for its award-winning, information-rich websites and newsletters; grants, curricula, and resources for youth gardens; and research for the lawn and garden industry.
Mantis manufactures tiller/cultivators, dual-chamber composters, and many other gardener-friendly tools.
