The Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners Association (RAMGA) has announced that it is launching its 2025 “Giving Back” community grant program. RAMGA will provide awards of between $200 -$600 to Rockbridge County nonprofits for projects that align with RAMGA’s mission.
Eligible Rockbridge County nonprofits could include, but are not limited to schools, community centers, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and public libraries. The proposed projects should align with RAMGA’s mission statement, which is to educate and inform the community about sustainable horticultural.
Examples would be native, pollinator and natural habitat planting, fruit or vegetable gardens, public gardens (vegetable and flower), raising plants for sale (4-H), composting, purchasing plant labels and other signage that are considered to have educational value, reduce food insecurity, or have a positive environmental impact (which could include removal of invasive plants).
Projects must take place on public or nonprofitowned property and must not use or introduce invasive plants. A list of invasive plant species can be found at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website at https://www.dcr.virginia. gov/natural-heritage/invsppdflist.
Grant applications, which are available at RAMGA. org, can be submitted from Feb. 15 through March 15. Grant announcements will be made by April 1.
Applications can be sent electronically to [email protected] or via U.S. mail to Rockbridge Area Master Gardeners, P.O. Box 1383, Lexington, VA 24450.