Scotts Urban Garden Academy recently awarded nearly $25,000 in urban gardening grants to eight Columbus neighborhood organizations. Recipients will use the grants to improve community gardens or start new ones.

Scotts Urban Garden Academy is a partnership between the Columbus Foundation, Scotts Miracle-Gro, and Franklin Park Conservatory. In addition to funding, Scotts Urban Garden Academy provides community gardeners participating in Franklin Park Conservatory’s Growing to Green community gardening program with extensive training for running a successful community garden.

“Scotts Urban Garden Academy provides outstanding opportunities and support for neighborhood garden projects in Columbus,” said Lisa S. Courtice, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management at The Columbus Foundation. “The urban gardens supported by the Academy have a strong track record of building community and strengthening neighborhoods.”

In 2004, Columbus resident Kwodwo Ababio received a Scotts Urban Garden Academy grant. Alongside several of his neighbors, they established the New Harvest Growing Together community garden in the Linden area. Since then, the garden has doubled in size and produces more than 800 pounds of food a year.

The 2007 recipients of the Scotts Urban Garden Academy grants are: 

* Central Community House of Columbus Inc. received $2,500 to support the Community Green House Project

* Community Organizing Center received $4,000 to provide garden supplies for the Four Seasons City Farm Project, resurrection community gardens located on Carpenter Avenue

* East Columbus Civic Association received $2,025 to support the Krumm Park/East Columbus Community Garden

* Fairmoor Elementary School received $4,000 to create the Fairmoor Community Garden

* Franklin County Juvenile Court received $750 to provide continued support for the Growing to Green community garden maintained by high-risk youth on the city’s near east side

 
* Glenwood United Methodist Church received $4,000 to create a community garden called Growing Tomorrow, a project aimed to strengthen opportunities for gardening in the community

* Godman Guild Association received $4,000 to support the Weinland Park Community Garden’s effort to increase community involvement

* A Living Community Church Inc. received $2,000 to support the Landing Place Community Garden designed to provide ecological sustainability in the city’s Franklinton area

For more information, visit the Conservatory’s web site at www.fpconservatory.org.