Since 2009, the Greater Greenville Master Gardener Association has funded service and education programs in Upstate of South Carolina through our community grants program.
Our grants support new organizations, as well as proven programs. We fund school gardening programs, community gardens, and beautification projects as well as a host of other projects. All of our grantees encourage knowledge and promotion of gardening and horticultural education for our community.
Click here for Descriptions & Guidelines (pdf)
Click here for Application (Google Doc)
GRANT AWARDEES FOR 2022-23
by 2022-23 GGMG Grants Chairperson Sue Bethel
The Greater Greenville Master Gardeners Association has again completed a successful community grants program for the year. The committee met with this year's applicants and made site visits. Funds were distributed to the following worthwhile projects.
Our grants support new organizations, as well as proven programs. We fund school gardening programs, community gardens, and beautification projects as well as a host of other projects. All of our grantees encourage knowledge and promotion of gardening and horticultural education for our community.
Click here for Descriptions & Guidelines (pdf)
Click here for Application (Google Doc)
GRANT AWARDEES FOR 2022-23
by 2022-23 GGMG Grants Chairperson Sue Bethel
The Greater Greenville Master Gardeners Association has again completed a successful community grants program for the year. The committee met with this year's applicants and made site visits. Funds were distributed to the following worthwhile projects.
New hallway garden
Greer Middle College Charter HS
Greer Middle College met their goal of providing 30 students in the Environmental Science classes and 6 Garden club members with hands-on learning experience to plan and maintain a new indoor garden in the hallway wing of the school. The teachers wanted to determine whether the presence of the garden had any effect on stress, productivity, mental health, and fatigue by conducting pre/post surveys. Analysis showed a decrease in reporting feelings of “Very Stressed” and “Very Fatigued” from the Pre to the Post -Test period. They are now planning on moving some of the plants to a second location for a new garden!
Greer Middle College met their goal of providing 30 students in the Environmental Science classes and 6 Garden club members with hands-on learning experience to plan and maintain a new indoor garden in the hallway wing of the school. The teachers wanted to determine whether the presence of the garden had any effect on stress, productivity, mental health, and fatigue by conducting pre/post surveys. Analysis showed a decrease in reporting feelings of “Very Stressed” and “Very Fatigued” from the Pre to the Post -Test period. They are now planning on moving some of the plants to a second location for a new garden!
 Slater Elementary school garden
Slater Marietta Elementary School
Their “Revitalization of the School Garden” project was a success. Last year, their garden was overgrown, and snakes were living in it. Today, the garden is a place for students to learn about sustainable garden practices and about their natural world. Several grade levels actively participate in garden maintenance. Grant funds provided replacement of rotting cedar boards with plastic playground borders, garden supplies and purchase of a compost bin. Three book subscriptions from ‘Ag in the Classroom’ were funded to provide age-appropriate books centered around gardening with teacher lesson plans. Master Gardener, Polly Powell, provided much-needed guidance and advice and volunteered time and energy to bring their garden back to life. They have help maintaining the garden from other faithful volunteers, the Beta Club, and some classes. They plan to add a Garden Club next year with the hope to be able to implement even more garden-centered STEM activities. |
New boarders
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 Art in the park
San Souci Neighborhood Alliance
San Souci Community Garden received funding to build a grape trellis to grow grapes, replace an old sign in the front of the garden with new kiosk, new gardening supplies and wanted to enhance their Art in the Garden project The monthly Art in the Garden program for children held the first class in April titled, “ Fabric Leaf Tree”. The beautiful new grape arbor is filled with grapes ! and added a nice view of the garden as you walk up from the parking lot. The kiosk is being built to provide signage, a map of the garden, task assignments, wish lists, garden concert and movie schedules. The garden currently has 15 active members, all of whom help in the garden, and with their projects and pay a seasonal garden fee which goes to seeds, dirt, and irrigation. |
Grapevine arbor
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Greer Relief and Resources Agency
Greer Relief Agency has garden plots in the Greer Community Garden totaling 1080 sq. ft. Greer Relief’s grant funding goal is currently work-in-progress after losing their project manager and are re-engaging volunteers . The scope of their garden is to feed, educate & nurture neighbors in need. A typical season involves over 25 students. This was a summer garden that was plowed under in the fall, now expanded to a year-round sustainable garden. Their plans are to seek further funds for a greenhouse or hoop house on additional property adjacent to the Community Garden.
Greer Relief Agency has garden plots in the Greer Community Garden totaling 1080 sq. ft. Greer Relief’s grant funding goal is currently work-in-progress after losing their project manager and are re-engaging volunteers . The scope of their garden is to feed, educate & nurture neighbors in need. A typical season involves over 25 students. This was a summer garden that was plowed under in the fall, now expanded to a year-round sustainable garden. Their plans are to seek further funds for a greenhouse or hoop house on additional property adjacent to the Community Garden.
Prince of Peace Catholic Church
The parish project has 12 raised beds and this spring, the area expanded to plant directly into the soil, and adding fruit trees. Initially the parish did not have a regular direct water source to for gardening and volunteers were dragging hoses long distances to the gardens. The grant funds were used to provide a permanent pipeline supply of water. The garden supplies fresh produce to St Vincent DePaul Food Pantry and is maintained by volunteers, 7th grade students, preschoolers, home schoolers and parents. |
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Communities in Schools and Berea Friendship United Methodist Church
This was a partnership grant award between an agency/ school and church. They had a vegetable and flower garden, and the goal was to expand the Berea Elementary School Garden to produce more vegetables, add more color and beauty to the front of the school, enhance the wildlife habitat with bird and butterfly friendly plants, and to engage the community. Student groups marked out new garden beds, spread soil, engaged in their own designs and did plantings. Pastor Devon from Berea UMC who had been a landscaper, took each design and combined them to create a plan for the garden.
This was a partnership grant award between an agency/ school and church. They had a vegetable and flower garden, and the goal was to expand the Berea Elementary School Garden to produce more vegetables, add more color and beauty to the front of the school, enhance the wildlife habitat with bird and butterfly friendly plants, and to engage the community. Student groups marked out new garden beds, spread soil, engaged in their own designs and did plantings. Pastor Devon from Berea UMC who had been a landscaper, took each design and combined them to create a plan for the garden.
We look forward to future visits with these awardees and watching their projects develop!