Grants

Boone County Master Gardeners (BCMG), in cooperation with the Cooperative Extension Service of Boone County and Purdue University, promote sound gardening practices and provide research-based information to increase the knowledge and pleasure of gardening for the community and its members.

In keeping with that mission, BCMG funds and awards grants for special gardening/horticulture/agricultural projects which promote educational experiences within the community. This is an important part of our relationship within Boone County. You must be a Boone County resident to apply.  We will be offering three grants for a maximum of $500 each.

To apply for a 2025 grant please use the Boone County Master Gardener Grant Form. Fill out the form, select download with changes (download arrow), save changes with your groups name added (ex. YourGroupNameApplicationfor2025Grant) and email your saved file to Cheryl Pleak Copeland at [email protected]. The deadline is November 30.

Our 2024 Boone County Master Gardeners Educational Grant Recipients were: 

Dull’s Tree Farm and Pumpkin Harvest

Dull’s Tree Farm ran a four-week agricultural camp for over 450 students ages 3-8. The theme for the program was oviparous animals and gardening. During their study of oviparous animals, they learned what was an oviparous animal, discovered the parts of an egg and tested the strength of an eggshell.  They also learned about endangered oviparous animals such as frogs, toads and Monarch butterflies while making toad hotels, frog houses and butterfly puddles.  During gardening weeks children learned about gardening, vegetables, flowers and pumpkins.  They planted seeds, learned about pollinators and how fruit is formed.  After each lesson, children received nature journals with additional activities to do at home.  The grant money purchased books, materials for science, hand-on and craft activities, take-home journals and cups for flower picking and seed growing.

Lebanon Public Library

The Lebanon Library purchased seeds for their seed library in early spring. Seed types included were Butterfly/Hummingbird Wildflower seeds, Shasta Daisies, Morning Glories, Hybrid Marigolds and Harlequin Mix Columbine seeds.  In addition, seed envelopes and labels to make seed packets for the library patrons were purchased.

Maplelawn Farmstead

Maplelawn Farmstead requested money for signage/ labels for their native plants.  Maplelawn Farmstead depicts farming in the 1930’s.  They use the farm as an educational opportunity to connect people to the history of the plants and trees of that time period

Zionsville Community High School Agriculture Club

The ZCHS Agriculture Club used the funds to purchase compost to amend the four 12×4 foot raised beds on campus that we restored from a past club. They bought some seeds and planted kale, lettuce, carrots, garlic, flowers, and much more in those beds. They also paid for a community plot at the Elm Street Green community gardens here in Zionsville. They grew flowers and pumpkins there over the summer, and they recently sold those pumpkins (as well as our garlic) to help fund future projects. Lastly, some funds were used to purchase items for their two hydroponic Tower Gardens located in Mrs. Whitaker’s classroom. They grew a variety of greens and herbs in those towers and used those plants to feed their school’s pet turtle named Hardcover who lives in their library. They look forward to using the funds they earned selling the produce grown to fund future projects that will allow them to serve their community and learn about gardening in the process.

Our 2023 recipients of the Boone County Master Gardeners grants were: the Zionsville Cultural District Dahlia Society and the Junior Master Gardeners for Teen Challenge.

Zionsville Cultural District Dahlia Society

The project is a hands-on activity that provides free dahlia tubers and plants, along with educational and promotional materials, for residents of all ages to promote a living symbol of Zionsville’s cultural heritage, add beauty to their surroundings, and enjoy the benefits of growing flowers. The project underscores the town’s history as the “Dahlia City.” 

Junior Master Gardeners for Teen Challenge

“The Junior Master Gardener program is an international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension network. JMG engages children in novel, “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind.”  Source: https://jmgkids.us/what-is-jmg/

Adult & Teen Challenge provides Christian faith-based, residential care to young people and adults who struggle with life-controlling problems. Source: https://teenchallengeusa.org/centers/tcin101/

Project goals are:

Re-layout raised beds and height adjustments changes to the raised bed frames at JMG Gardens @ TC.
18 girls @ Teen Challenge will learn how to adjust their JMG beds to be 27” height.
They will learn to take soil samples and will learn to mix new soil & compost..
They will learn to build cold frames fenced in area and learn about selecting early spring produce.
They will plan and plant produce in all 12 raised beds.
JMG is an interactive program.
Maintain a garden journal.
Planned completion date May 31st 2023.

2022 recipients of the Boone County Master Gardeners grants were:

Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library

Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville was awarded a 2022 Master Gardener grant, requested by Patricia VanArsdale, Teen & Adult Assistant Department Head. The town of Zionsville was awarded the title of 2021 Green Community of the Year by Accelerated Indiana Municipalities. The library started a seed bank in May of 2021 and has distributed 7,200 packages of free garden/flower seeds to the community. In keeping with the town’s environmentally friendly focus, by reducing the number of plastics from their landfills and by helping community members to garden by offering free seeds, the library will use the grant to purchase soil blockers and soil tubs. The soil blockers and tubs can be checked out by patrons of the library in order to create blocks of soil to plant their seeds in therefor bypassing the need for plastic seed trays or plastic containers. We wish them well during their 2022 community seed giveaway.                         

Boone Meadow Elementary School

Boone Meadow Elementary School was awarded a 2022 Master Gardener grant, requested by Candice Culligan, PTO beautification volunteer, to support the continuation of the school’s STEM edible garden project. The grant will be used to help purchase lumber for new raised beds, soil amendments, and fruit and vegetable seed or seedlings. This garden is used for STEM instruction for grades kindergarten through fourth. The main purposes of the garden are education and community outreach. Students learn where their food comes from by planting seeds and seedlings, maintaining the garden, and harvesting the fruits and vegetables. The produce harvested will be donated to local feeding programs and food pantries in Boone County.

Some past projects that have been funded include:

• Maplelawn Farmstead
                                                                    
• Boone Meadow Elementary School
                     
• Zionsville Cultural District (Dahlia Project)

The Boone County Community Gardens used the grant to purchase seeds for the community garden and support educational activities. Over 80 youth and 120 adults benefited. This project resulted in 2,850 pounds of produce donated to local feeding programs and food pantries. Twice-weekly hands-on gardening classes were provided to the local Boys & Girls Club summer campers. An additional grant in 2020 will continue to fund this group that is changing the food system for our community.