GROW! receives funds from Forever Idaho North Grant Program

BONNERS FERRY —- GROW!, or Gardeners for Regional Organic Well-being, has received a $2,346 grant from the Idaho Community Foundation’s Forever Idaho North Grant Program.

A local community garden nonprofit, GROW! will use the funds to support the community’s Little Free Garden program. The goal of the project is to foster communities committed to growing, sharing and cultivating food in small gardens placed in residential or public spaces.

The initial funding for the Boundary County Little Free Garden project came from a $2,500 grant from the community’s larger High Five! Project, sponsored by Blue Cross of Idaho’s Foundation for Health, in 2019.

The idea behind the project was to provide free garden produce in small demonstration gardens while showing the public how easy it is to grow your own tasty produce, GROW! officials said.

“In particular, our aim was to provide fresh produce samples to children, encouraging healthy eating and gardening projects for youth,” said Kate Painter, GROW! board member.

In its first year of operation, 26 Little Free Gardens were installed across Boundary County. After receiving a second $2,500 grant from the High Five! Project the following year, the number of gardens was expanded to 40. With additional funding from the Idaho Community Foundation grant, GROW! will be able to continue to expand this program to new locations that will help provide access to areas that have not been served.

As the first location in Idaho, the Boundary County community has the highest number of Little Free Gardens in the country outside of the Fargo-Moorhead location where the project originated. GROW! officials said they would like to see the gardens provide fresh produce samples to all in the community through outreach in public spaces, typically near businesses that care for the gardens.

GROW! plans to expand this outreach to underserved areas in order to provide free, healthy snacks throughout the community.

The local chapter of the national Little Free Garden project has had widespread support from local businesses that provide the location and manage these gardens, officials said. Some of the businesses have provided their own garden container and plants as well.

Any business interested in participating should contact Gerry Ann Howlett at gerryannhowlett@growboundarycounty.org. More information about GROW! or Gardeners for Regional Organic Well-being, Inc., can be found at www.growboundarycounty.org

The Idaho Community Foundation connects Idahoans to a generous statewide network through the power of collective giving. Its grant-making, community impact work and charitable advising services have strengthened nonprofits, schools and communities in every Idaho county for more than 30 years. For more information, go online to www.idahocf.org.