Mini Grant Overview
Beginning in 2017, Growing Together mini grants were available to University of Wisconsin-Extension FoodWIse projects in partnership with active Master Gardener Volunteers. The mini grants provided funds for one or multiple local Master Gardener Program projects aimed at increasing access and availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for families and individuals with limited incomes in Wisconsin.
The purpose of this funding is to support collaborative projects between FoodWIse and Master Gardeners in Wisconsin towards the goal of improved food safety, security and health for families with limited incomes by increasing access and availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for families and individuals with limited incomes in Wisconsin.
Each Growing Together WI project utilizes two or more strategies as described here:
Community Education Strategy
Talk about the value of community gardens with community stakeholders. Advocate for garden space accessibility for individuals with limited incomes. Promote land use and safety for equitable garden access for all community residents. Stakeholder engagement will leverage support and funds for the project while assuring long-term sustainability.
Connect Strategy
To facilitate food rescue and food donation efforts, serve as a conduit to connect growers to sites where individuals with limited incomes eat, live, learn, work, play and shop.
Grow Strategy
Establish, install, and maintain (weed, water, harvest, etc.) gardens at sites where individuals with limited incomes eat, live, learn, work, and play. Example sites include schools, food pantries and Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), housing sites, community centers and youth programs, early care and education sites (HeadStart), worksites.
Participant Education Strategy
Deliver on-site garden-based nutrition education and/or provide direct education to individuals with limited incomes on how to grow garden produce and gardening techniques.
A summary of these strategies can be viewed at the Growing Together WI Project Scheme
2017 GardenWIse Mini Grant Awardees
- Adams County
- Barron County
- Dane County
- Forest County
- Marathon County
- Portage County
- Vilas County
- Walworth County
- Winnebago County
2018 Growing Together WI Mini Grant Awardees
- Barron County
- Florence County
- Fond du Lac County
- Forest County
- Grant/Iowa/Lafayette Tri-County Program
- Lac Courte Oreilles & Sawyer County
- Price County
- Vilas County
