We have never heard of a workshop in D15 that covers all the grants and free stuff a New York City public school garden would want, so don't miss out on this!  At Garden Train's November meeting, our Grow to Learn liaison Laura Casaregola will present key grant-writing tips and share resource opportunities around the city so you can fund and supply your school garden projects. There's a LOT out there, and Grow to Learn will bring it ALL in one place so everyone can take advantage of the opportunities for school gardening. Plan ahead: now is the time to secure funds and make a plan for breaking ground in the Spring!  We encourage all District 15 school gardens to send a representative.  This meeting will also be a great one for schools that want to start their own school gardens because you'll learn about all the resources available to your school.

Grow to Learn is the Citywide Network that brings together partnerships and resources into one convenient, central location for K-12 public and charter school gardeners.  

Thank you to PS 24 in Sunset Park for hosting this meeting.  We are excited for school garden leaders to visit PS 24's brand new (and barrier free!) garden before or after the meeting.  

There will be handouts and giveaways, too. Please share this email with your garden committees.

CON-GRANT-ULATIONS to Garden Train and to D15 School Gardens!

We won a Reduce Reuse Repair Grant from Citizens Committee for New York City the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board to create a mini tool lending library at Old Stone House in D15! We will be able to serve our D15 public schools even more in 2020 as a result. Email us with your tool wish list to gardentraind15@gmail.com and come to our Nov 21 meeting at PS 24 in Sunset Park where we'll talk more about what tools we'd like! Thank you to Garden Train co-leader Betty Feibusch who made this grant wish come true. 

Apply for GCC's Urban Ecology Program! GCC invites all NYC DOE K-5 public school teachers to apply for our new Urban Ecology Program! Teachers accepted into the program will receive:A free professional development workshop providing a historical overview of the Gowanus ecosystemNYS standards-aligned science and social studies lessons and activities.

Up to four free urban ecology field trips to the Gowanus Canal Conservancy Salt Lot.  During each 90 minute field trip visit students propagate plants in our native plant nursery at the Salt Lot. Through hands-on field studies and authentic, multi-disciplinary essential questions, they investigate biodiversity in an urban ecosystem as they explore human impact on this former salt marsh. Students learn how they can have a positive impact as stewards of the local environment.  

All NYC DOE K-5 NYC public elementary schools are eligible to apply. Special consideration will be given to: Schools that are located in the Gowanus watershed and New York State Environmental Justice areas in Brooklyn (see map here)Schools that serve at least 50% low income students (based on the DOE’s economic need index).  Applications are due by December 13, 2019. Please reach out to education@gowanuscanalconservancy.org with any questions. 

Speaking of grants...Here is a grant update from our partners at the DOE's Office of Sustainability regarding the Sustainability Project Grant (above):

Dear Partners,

We are extending our grant deadline from EOD to 11/26/19 (flyer attached). The application must be submitted by a DOE employee by EOD by November 26, 2019.

PLEASE NOTE: 

So far, we only have ONE SCHOOL that has applied for support in the Environmental Education category (up to $5K). This opportunity was created for schools that want to partner with you to bring your unique programming to their staff and students, but that have limited means to do so otherwise. We hope to see more applications from schools as this is a great opportunity for both of you, and that the deadline extension helps! 

Please share this email with your school garden committee members and anyone who roots for our school gardens. Our partners are invited to share relevant news with our D15 garden leaders by emailing gardentrainD15@gmail.com.