[Liberty, NY] – Sullivan 180 announced recipients of the 2024 Catskill Edible Garden Project grants for creation and care of edible gardens in schools and daycare facilities. As an extension of Sullivan 180’s initiative to create a Healthier Generation for Sullivan County youth, the gardens serve as educational places with access to healthy foods and our county’s agricultural heritage, as well as hands-on gathering spaces to connect with community and environment.

The Catskill Edible Garden Project is a partnership between Catskill Mountainkeeper, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Sullivan 180. Grants ranging from $400 to $2,500 were awarded.

The projects include building new gardens, rebuilding of older gardens, and maintenance of established gardens. The Sullivan 180 2024 Catskill Edible Garden Project Grants are:

George L. Cooke School: building a more inviting entryway garden bed with herbs and pollinator plants; care of existing vegetable and fruit beds.

Emma C. Chase Elementary School: adding trellises, drainage, perennials, and vegetables; working alongside an Eagle Scout to build a shed and greenhouse.

Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary School: adding herbs, perennials, and tools alongside care of existing garden.

Liberty Elementary School: construction of a new garden bed and shed for tool storage; new wheelbarrows. 

Liberty High School: maintenance of existing edible garden, adding pollinator plants for lesson extensions and kitchen materials for use in preparing garden harvest.

Fallsburg Jr./Sr. School: bringing existing school garden back into use with seeds, soil, lattice, and irrigation.

Sullivan County BOCES: continued maintenance and enhancement of existing edible garden and funding for a new build to serve other wings of the school.

Sullivan West Elementary School: addition of tool shed and tools; purchase of soil and seeds.

Roscoe Central School: re-build of decade-old existing garden with a sensory focus.

Valley Daycare: expansion of garden for younger students with new containers, tools, and seeds.

Livingston Manor Central School: adding fencing and native perennials.

Homestead Collaborative College High School: funding for compost and vegetables within permaculture program.

For more information on how to get involved with the Catskill Edible Garden Project, contact Eva Bednar at 845-295-2719 or Eva@Sullivan180.org