The Florida Wildflower Foundation is seeking applications for its Seedlings for Schools Grant Program to provide Florida native ecotype wildflower plants for school gardens throughout Florida.
Donor Name: Florida Wildflower Foundation
State: Florida
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/30/2023
Details:
Wildflowers and classroom resources for Florida schools are provided through this program. Grants include 30 to 40 native wildflower seedlings, classroom resources and professional guidance on garden establishment. Grants are awarded in late May; plants are shipped in September in time for the new school year. Teachers who are awarded grants are eligible to receive more wildflowers in the spring if fall gardens are successfully established and cared for.
The Foundation is working to create urban wildflower pathways to form a native habitat network of school wildflower gardens, community plantings, city parks and natural areas.
Goals
The goals of this program are to:
- Increase children’s awareness and appreciation of Florida’s unique flora and fauna.
- Promote outdoor learning experiences that help students achieve state academic standards
- Use school gardens to establish pollinator pathways of wildflowers to host bees, butterflies and other insects.
Eligibility Criteria
- To qualify for a Seedlings for Schools grant, your school must have an existing outdoor garden site free of turf and weeds. Teachers must verify adequate growing conditions and commitment for growing wildflowers. Three photos of your intended garden site must accompany the application.
- Public and private pre-K through grade 12 teachers may apply.
- Gardens need to be prepared in advance of receiving wildflowers, which will be shipped in September. Grant recipients must:
- Remove weeds and grasses from the site before planting the wildflower garden.
- Agree not to add any plants to the garden that are considered invasive to Florida.
- Agree not to add potting soil and fertilizer to the garden.
- Agree not to use cypress mulch. (Acceptable mulches are pine straw, compost and recycled tree trimmings; no mulch is also an option).
- Protect the garden from foot traffic and unauthorized mowing.
- Have a plan for summer maintenance to ensure garden’s survival.
- They realize all gardens are not successful, but the learning experience of starting a garden is irreplaceable! They encourage partnering with parents and community groups such as garden clubs, master gardeners and Florida Native Plant Society chapters to ensure garden success.
For more information, visit FWF.
