Given the extraordinary circumstances we have faced this year, the VSGP committee has decided to extend the closing date for the Awards to Friday 9th October.

We acknowledge that students have not attended school for the last two terms due to COVID-19 and appreciate that gardens may not be at their usual standard, but still encourage schools to enter.

The Awards Program has 10 different categories for schools to enter and $44,000 worth of nursery vouchers and garden products available to be won.

For more information, please visit the VSGP website.

This year the VSGP were thrilled to receive record breaking grant applications; with over 450 entries from 265 schools across the state. Like many others in these difficult times, schools are realising the important role that gardening and school gardens have to offer their students and are wanting to implement garden projects in their school yards.

Choosing the successful applicants with so many high-quality entries and stunning garden projects, was not an easy task. Due to the volume and quality of applications received, the VSGP Advisory Committee decided to reward an additional 20 schools with high scores yet still missed out, a Merit Grant to the value of $250.

59 successful schools will now be able to under their proposed garden project while another 20 Merit grant will be able to contribute funds to their school garden or garden program.

Click here to see the 2020 Grant Recipients

The 2020 Grants program has received record entries with over 450 entries from 265 schools.

Like many others in these difficult times, schools are realising the important role that gardening and school gardens have to offer their students.

The VSGP Advisory Committee now has the difficult task to access the many grant applications received to choose the successful schools.

With so many school applying for the 56 available grants this year, it has been decided that some extra funds will be contributed from the budget to create Merit Grants for schools who have score well, yet missed out due to the high quantity of entries this year.

The VSGP Grants applications which were due to close this Friday 1st May, have now been extended until Friday 26th June 2020.

Due to the current circumstance of Victorian schools being closed to onsite learning for the majority teachers and students, the VSGP committee thought it would be best to extend the grants closing date to the end of Term 2. This means the successful schools will have funds available when schools return, to tend to their neglected gardens.

Now more than ever it is important for children to learn how to garden, not just for the ability of being able to grow your own food but also for amazing health and well-being benefits of stress release by connecting to nature and getting your hands dirty.