University of Illinois Extension’s Marshall-Putnam Ag in the Classroom is encouraging classrooms to grow plants. To aid teachers with supplies for this learning experience, the Illinois Ag in the Classroom (IAITC) program is offering container garden grants. The grant award will include an EarthBox Portable Planting System®, as well as the IAITC Once Upon A Garden lesson booklet and one copy of each of the following books (or appropriate substitutes): “Oh Say Can You Seed” by Bonnie Worth, “Harvest Year and Seed, Soil, Sun: Earth’s Recipe for Food” by Cris Peterson, “Water: sources, use, conservation” by Nancy Carlson, and “The Vegetables We Eat” and “From Seed to Plant” by Gail Gibbons.
Recipients will also receive a check for $20 to purchase potting soil, seeds and plants for their EarthBox. The grant is open to pre-school through high school classrooms. Online grant applications are available at www.agintheclassroom.org under teacher resources or from Marshall-Putnam Ag in the Classroom. Hard copy applications are due by Monday, March 16, to Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, 1701 Towanda Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701.
For more information, call University of Illinois Extension, Bureau-LaSalle-Marshall-Putnam Unit at 309-364-2356.