Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Lenoir County Announce 2025 Horticulture Grant Opportunity
Written by: Paige Petticrew (Consumer Hort. Agent & EMGV Advisor, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension)
The Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Lenoir County (EMGV) is excited to announce the availability of its 2025 Horticulture Grant, designed to inspire educators in Lenoir County to bring hands-on gardening and environmental learning into the classroom.
Open to teachers, media coordinators, guidance counselors, principals, and other educators, the grant provides funding for creative projects that go beyond traditional curriculum. From building specialty gardens and composting stations to exploring beneficial insects, worm culture, terrariums, or rainwater collection, these projects give students a chance to grow, learn, and connect with the natural world while strengthening vocabulary, math, and science skills.
Applicants may request up to $300 per grant, and multiple awards will be distributed. Completed applications must be typed and submitted electronically by Friday, October 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Recipients will be notified in early December and be recognized and awarded at the EMGV Christmas Banquet on December 9, 2025, at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office.
The Selection Committee, made up of the county Horticulture Agent and EMGV members, will evaluate applications based on creativity, student benefit, number of students served, connection to curriculum goals, sustainability, and efficient use of funds. Projects must be implemented before the end of the 2025–2026 school year, with post evaluations due by May 30, 2026.
In past years, this grant has supported unique, hands-on learning opportunities:
One recipient used grant funds to create terrariums, giving students the chance to study ecosystems in action. Over a four-month span, they observed the water cycle and plant growth within a closed system, reinforcing lessons in science and sustainability.
Another project focused on vermicomposting, where students cared for worm bins, kept observation journals, and learned about waste reduction and soil health. Their efforts not only boosted classroom engagement but also produced compost later used in the school garden.
A third classroom planted potatoes, creating their own garden. Students learned how root crops grow underground, watched the plants develop, harvested the potatoes, and even took them home to eat — connecting farm to table in a fun, meaningful way.
“The Horticulture Grant is a wonderful opportunity for educators to enrich student learning while fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment,” said Paige Petticrew, Consumer Horticulture Agent, and EMGV Advisor for Lenoir County. “We encourage applicants to think creatively and to partner with local organizations or businesses for added impact.”
For more information on our current grant opportunity or to request an application go to our website at https://lenoir.ces.ncsu.edu/2025/08/horticulturegrant2025/, or contact Patricia Bizzell at bizzellpb@gmail.com or 252-521-1374.
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