Gardening for All
Want to start a garden?
The Urban Roots Gardening for All program helps your family, school, nonprofit, or business develop a sustainable garden so your family, students, or employees can reap all of the benefits of gardening without the stress of planning or building one. Gardening for All is a 1-year program designed to meet your needs as a beginner gardener. If your application is accepted, our team will get to work designing your garden!
Application for 2024 is now closed
Application will open in August 2024 for 2025 gardens. Email kelsey@urgc.org with any questions
Which garden is best for you?
"The best part about this program is that we helped do this as a family and that the kids are excited to see growth. We are excited about the idea of becoming more reliant on our own gardens rather than buying from the grocery store." - 2022 GFA Family
Home Garden
We want to build a garden with you and your family!
INCLUDES:
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Garden design & build
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All garden materials including redwood lumber, Full Circle Compost soil, seeds, locally grown seedlings and irrigation
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4 seasonal check ins from UR staff to guide your garden's growth
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Free tickets to four of our gardening 101 series workshops: The Dead Plant Society
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Choice of custom or standard size garden (Two 3x6 raised beds) See price list here
*Scholarships available based on need
School Garden
We want to grow a garden with your students!
INCLUDES:
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Garden design & build to best fit the needs of your school
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Support completing the garden plan and proposal to the district
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All garden materials including redwood lumber, Full Circle Compost soil, seeds, locally grown seedlings and irrigation
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4 seasonal check ins from UR staff to guide your garden's growth
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Option to add on Teacher Training for OPAL PD hours, field trips to our Urban Teaching Farm and standards-based curriculum
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Choice of new custom garden or revitalization of existing garden.
*Scholarships available based on Title I status
"I think this has the potential of really helping the community become more aware and knowledgeable about what we can grow here and how to do it. I find it is a fantastic way of spending quality time together checking on the produce, watering, and weeding"- Washoe County School Teacher
Our application for 2022-2023 gardens will open Monday August 8th and close September 23rd. Stay tuned for more info!
"We really believe in the program, and Urban Roots is executing it really well. Every Urban Roots staff member who contributed to our garden did so with much appreciated positivity and enthusiasm"
- GFA Member 2022
Garden for Business or
Non-profit
We want to build a garden with your staff!
INCLUDES:
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Garden design & build
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All garden materials including redwood lumber, Full Circle Compost soil, seeds, locally grown seedlings and irrigation
-
4 seasonal check ins from UR staff to guide your garden's growth
-
Free tickets to four of our gardening 101 series workshops: The Dead Plant Society
-
Choice of container, custom size or standard garden (Two 3x6 raised beds) See price list here
*Scholarships available based on need
FAQ
When does the application open and close?
The application opens once a year in August and closes in September. For 2023-2024, the application opens Monday, August 7th and closes Friday, September 10th.
How does Urban Roots choose gardens each year?
Our entire team reviews GFA applications, looking for applicant excitement and desire to garden. We consider the space and feasibility of a garden and make decisions based on our capacity and funding for the year. No prior experience in gardening is needed, just a desire to learn! Applicants will hear if their garden is chosen by mid-October.
What if my application is not accepted this year?
We will put your application on a waiting list. If we have an opening for a garden build, we will reach out to you. If you were not accepted this year, we encourage you to apply next year! Come check out our farm for events, workshops, and volunteering opportunities to start learning more about gardening.
What is the cost of the garden?
The cost of each garden includes garden design, build, all materials, workshops, and our staff's time to support your dream garden.
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Standard garden (Two 3x6 raised beds) $1500
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Custom garden (More than 2 raised beds that best fits your space) $2500
See full price list here:
Are their scholarships available?
Yes! We want to make gardening accessible for anyone. We offer full, half and partial scholarships for all gardens based on funding availability.
When will my garden be built?
We start garden builds in February of each year. You can expect planting to take place in April/May. See complete schedule here:
What should I do to prepare to complete the application?
Choose a potential site where you would like to build a garden. Observe that site during the day to see how much light it receives (at least 6 hours). Think about what you would like to grow and who will be helping you build and care for the garden.
What if I rent?
If you rent your home or apartment, we just ask that you have your landlord review and sign an agreement form as part of the application. Your application will not be considered complete until this form is signed.
What can I expect from Urban Roots staff?
We don't claim to be expert farmers, but we are experts in making gardening fun, hands-on and low-stress for learners of all ages! Our goal is to build more gardens in our region and get more hands in the dirt. We embrace the mess and are resourceful! If we don't know the answer to your gardening question, we'll help you find the answer.