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.

Despite the uncertain times for all of us, we are delighted that our Grants program will proceed this year. Now more than ever it is so important that children are given the opportunity to learn the skills and joys of gardening.
Providing students with opportunities to garden provides them with:

• active learning and development of lifelong skills
• connection to nature,
• stewardship of their school grounds
• health and well-being benefits of relaxation and stress reductions.

Now is the perfect time to plan garden projects for your school. When things do return to normal it would be wonderful to treat the outdoor space to some loving care and for students who have been stuck indoors to get outside and do some outdoors learning.