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COMMUNITY GARDENS & GRANTS

ABOUT

The American Community Gardening Association uses a broad definition of what a community garden entails. It can be urban, suburban, or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot, or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood. Another way of thinking about community gardens are as “Community-managed open space”. They are different from a park or public space where some other entity ultimately decides the purpose and maintains the site. Community gardens are where the residents of a community are empowered to design, build and maintain spaces in the community.

Community Gardening Network Purpose

The Jackson County Master Gardener™ Association strives to help create, support and grow community gardens that enrich their neighborhoods by enhancing food security, promoting a sustainable environment and fostering community based educational opportunities and community building. A yearly grant is offered for this purpose. Quarterly meetings are held to bring garden leaders together to share ideas, policies, successes and resources to improve their community gardens.

Grant Mission

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association Community Garden Grant Committee in collaboration with the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program intends to increase Food Security by assisting in establishing community gardens throughout Jackson County with monetary and educational assistance.

GRANT GUIDELINES 

Applications are accepted in the spring.
 
The 2025 application deadline is May 15. We will be allotting grants totaling $3,000. See application guidelines and the list of items to include in your application below. (There is no “application form” to fill out.)
 
Submit your application by mail to Sherri Morgan, 365 Fair Oaks Ave., Ashland OR 97520, or online to shemor484@gmail.com.
  • Applicants must be sponsored by a non-profit organization or community garden associated with a school or parks department, or any other organization as approved by the Community Outreach Working Group.
  • The garden must have an established location.
  • Gardeners must participate in the garden in order to obtain produce.
  • Produce cannot be sold.
  • The garden must have clearly stated policies and procedures for operation (an organizational outline).
  • The garden must have an on-going educational component.

Please include the following items in your application as outlined below:

I.     COVER LETTER

In a letter summarize your project, indicate the amount of money you are requesting and include name, address and phone number of the contact person.

II.    TAX EXEMPT STATUS

Attach a copy of your IRS exemption letter under section 501(c)(3). If you are working under the umbrella of an existing nonprofit, include a letter from the group verifying that arrangement and a copy of their IRS exemption letter.

A community garden that is not associated with a non-profit organization may apply for a grant. This would include community gardens associated with a school or parks department, or any other organization as approved by the Community Outreach Working Group.

III. DESCRIPTION

Include your goals and objectives, time line and evaluation methods and identify the population to be served. How will the garden be organized (i.e. who is the leadership, how will it function?).

IV.    PROJECT BUDGET

Describe the overall budget for the project and how this grant will be spent.

V.     FUNDING

List other funding sources and how the garden will be sustained in the future.

VI.    SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Include flyers, newspaper articles, photos, support letters, etc.

 

For additional information contact Sherri Morgan at shemor484@gmail.com

JACKSON COUNTY COMMUNITY GARDENS

Ashland Community Gardens
Coordinated by the Ashland Parks and Recreation Dept.
Call the North Mountain Park Nature Center for availability – 541-488-6606.

  • Garden Way Park, 1620 Clark St.
  • Clay Street Park, 491 Clay St.
  • Ashland Creek Park, 27 East Hersey St.
  • Scenic Park, 603 Scenic Dr.

Great Maggie’s Gold Hill Community Garden

Phoenix Community Gardens
Coordinated by garden members. Call Sandy Wine for availability – 541-631-1865

  • Blue Heron Park Community Garden, 4361 Bear Creek Dr.

Talent Community Gardens
Coordinated by garden members. Call Sharon Anderson for availability – 541-535-9055

  • Talent’s Great Green Garden, Talent Elementary School, 307 W Wagner St.

Eagle Point Community Gardens
Call Eagle Point City Hall for availability – 541-826-4212

  • Creekside Park Community Garden, 711 North Royal Ave.

Central Point Community Gardens
Coordinated by garden members.

  • Don Jones Park, 223 West Vilas Rd. Call Central Point City Hall for availability: 541-423-1012

Medford Community Gardens

  • Holly Street  Garden, 333 Holmes Street.  Contact Dana Kline at 505-709-7209
  • Mark’s Episcopal Church and Family Nurturing Center Garden, 5th St. & Ivy St. – 541-779-5242
  • Providence Food Garden, 769 Spring Street. Contact Lila Farney at 541-326-1876
  • Come-Unity Garden at First Christian Church, 1900 Crater Lake Ave. – 541-772-8030
  • Union Park Community Garden, 501 Plum St. – Jamar Johnson –  480-249-1419    jjjohn@protonmail.com    

Rogue Valley Food Bank Garden

  • 270 West Evans Creek Road, Rogue River
  • Contact Helga Bush at 847-207-6555