Groups, individuals can apply for Parks gardening grants

MADISON – For the second year, civic groups and individuals can apply for the Jane R. Parks Memorial Grant to fund gardening projects.

(CONTRIBUTED)

The Master Gardeners of North Alabama will accept grant applications. Awards will be granted in amounts from $100 up to $1,000 for ongoing work.

“The Jane R. Parks Memorial Grant was formed to award money to support ongoing educational projects in horticulture in Madison County, Alabama,” Madison resident and master gardener Rose Berry said.

This grant honors the memory of Jane Parks, who was an educator, master gardener and community volunteer. The Parks family founded the grant, which continues to grow with donations from individuals who support gardening in the community.

The target audience for the grant is any group that has an ongoing gardening project that will benefit the community as a whole, Berry said. Examples of undertakings are a garden at a school for students to work ‘in the dirt,’ community vegetable patches and library gardens.

Grant recipients in 2012 were the Care Assurance System for the Aging and Homebound (CASA) community gardens for seed purchases, Madison Children’s Garden – A Living Library for a root display and the Seminole Boys and Girls club for a raised bed garden.

To review qualification criteria for the grant, visit the Master Gardeners of North Alabama’s website at mginfo.org. Complete the brief application and submit it by Oct. 21.

“Recipients will be notified by email on Nov. 15. The grant monies will be awarded at the Master Gardeners of North Alabama’s Christmas social on Dec. 12,” Berry said.

The Master Gardeners of North Alabama organization supports several service projects that help restore and beautify areas in communities and partner with organizations to nurture and teach sound horticultural practices to residents.

For more information, call Berry at 256-461-8107 or email to roseb@knology.