Garden Grants Get Communities Growing

  • Fisheries and Land Resources

June 12, 2019

How does your community garden grow? For 97 community, church, seniors, children and youth groups, municipalities, local service districts and schools, it’s with help from the Provincial Government’s new Community Garden Support Program.

The program was launched this spring to increase food self-sufficiency, access to fresh foods, and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Applicants applied for a total of $49,386 to support various community garden projects. The deadline to apply was May 8 and all applications have been processed including those for 23 new gardens.

Non-profit community groups and organizations, municipalities and local service districts were eligible to receive up to $500 annually in a non-repayable grant. Funding must be used for food production activities within the community garden, to enhance existing community gardens or to establish new community gardens. Proponents of new community gardens were asked to provide details on their garden development plans.

This investment through the Community Garden Support Program, supports government’s goal to double food self-sufficiency by 2022. In Budget 2019, there is approximately $100,000 available for investment in this program.

Quote
“Fueled by our desire to become more food self-sufficient, community gardens are becoming increasingly popular throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. I am thrilled at the response to our new program. This province has a long history of agriculture and the enthusiasm generated for our new Community Garden Support Program shows our collective commitment to increase farming and food security, and bringing food to communities. I look forward to watching our shared progress as communities begin preparations and plant their gardens.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources

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Learn more
Community Garden Support Program Aims to Increase Food Self-Sufficiency

Details on Community Garden Support Program and Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program

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Media contact
Connie Boland
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6409
connieboland@gov.nl.ca

2019 06 12 11:45 am