North Little Rock Accepting Community Garden Applications
Monday (July 26, 2021)…. The City of North Little Rock is accepting applications for the Community Garden Program until Sunday, August 15, 2021. The Community Garden Program in North Little Rock is allotted $55,000 per year to support the establishment or improvement of community gardens and urban farms in the city and is funded with the support of volunteers, non-profits, and tax-payer dollars. Community groups, faith-based organizations, and schools may request up to $5,000 each season for garden materials, tools, and certain other expenses. These gardens play a vital role in increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, providing opportunities for physical activity, and nurturing neighborhood connections in our city. The linked Community Garden application is a fillable document that can be downloaded, completed and emailed for consideration. Please email your application by August 15, 2021 to [email protected] and [email protected].
Download Application
Background on the Community Garden Program in the City of North Little Rock:
A community garden is defined as any single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people. These gardens are often established at schools, churches, and residential areas and can grow any combination of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They might consist of one large community plot or many different individual garden beds. With funding from North Little Rock's Community Garden Program, the number of community gardens in our city has blossomed over the past 11 years. There are currently more than 20 gardens in the network. A Community Garden can improve the quality of life for those involved by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources, creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education. Gardens also help reduce crime, preserve green space, create income opportunities and economic development, reduce city heat from streets and parking lots and provide opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections.