Department of Agriculture

Supporting Arkansas farmers and ranchers while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of Arkansas, the nation, and across the globe

Arkansas School Garden Grant Program

The Arkansas School Garden Grant Program was established in 2020 to help schools start or expand gardens on school grounds. The grant program was developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to increase production of specialty crops in school gardens. Specialty crops as defined by the USDA are fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture awards grants to public and private K-12 schools, early childhood education facilities, and alternative learning environments to purchase soil, specialty crop seeds and plants, and gardening equipment to support their school garden.

The application period is closed and the timeline for the next grant cycle is to be determined.

For additional help and support, contact:
Jessica Chapman
Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator
jessica.chapman@agriculture.arkansas.gov
(501) 251-3019

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Arkansas School Garden Grant Program Recipients!

The 2022-2023 Garden Grant Program provided $23,500 to 47 schools, early childhood education facilities, and alternative learning environments across 24 counties. Recipients ranged from schools starting their first garden to schools expanding their existing school garden. Find a map of previous Arkansas School Garden Grant winners here.

  • Acorn Elementary School - Mena
  • All Children's Academy - Little Rock
  • ARVAC Lake Point Head Start Center - Russellville
  • Batesville Preschool - Batesville
  • Cabot Middle School South - Cabot
  • Central Elementary - Van Buren
  • Charleston Middle School - Charleston
  • Chicot Elementary - Mabelvale
  • Clinton High School - Clinton
  • Crossett Pre-K - Crossett
  • Eagle Mountain Elementary - Batesville
  • East End Intermediate - Little Rock
  • Fayetteville High School - Fayetteville
  • George Elementary - Springdale
  • Green Forest High School - Green Forest
  • Harrison High School - Harrison
  • Helen Tyson Middle School - Springdale
  • Hope Academy of Public Service - Hope
  • Horatio Elementary - Horatio
  • Hot Springs Child Care 3 - Hot Springs
  • Hot Springs Child Care Center 2 - Hot Springs
  • Hugh Goodwin Elementary - El Dorado
  • John Tyson Elementary School - Springdale
  • Manila Elementary - Manila
  • Mansfield High School - Mansfield
  • Marion Math, Science and Technology Magnet School - Marion
  • Mineral Springs - Mineral Springs
  • Monticello Intermediate School - Monticello
  • Mountain View High School - Mountain View
  • Oakdale Middle School - Rogers
  • Ozark High School - Ozark
  • Ozark Junior High - Ozark
  • Palestine-Wheatley Elementary - Palestine
  • Pinnacle View Middle School - Little Rock
  • Pulaski Heights Elementary - Little Rock
  • Quitman Public Schools - Quitman
  • Rena Elementary - Van Buren
  • Retta Brown - El Dorado
  • Ridgefield Christian School - Jonesboro
  • Salem Elementary School - Benton
  • Sheridan Middle School - Sheridan
  • Shirley School District - Shirley
  • Stagecoach Elementary - Little Rock
  • The Centers - Little Rock
  • The Farm at Pediatrics Plus - Bryant
  • The Farm at Pediatrics Plus - Conway
  • West Elementary School - West Memphis

To learn more about the first year of the Arkansas School Garden Grant Program, check out this infographic about the impact of the program in 2020-2021.