Green Thumbs at Work 2016 Application
Green Thumbs at Work Garden Grant Application Application Deadline: Friday, Jan. 29, 2016
The 2016 Green Thumbs at Work program provides funding and technical assistance for 12 workplace food gardens at sites all over the state. The grants are made possible by the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Community Garden Network in partnership with garden expert Charlie Nardozzi, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, and Gardener’s Supply Company.
Green Thumbs at Work grants are open to any Vermont business/ organization with fewer than 50 employees. The grants are for starting new gardens. In some cases, they may be used for expanding existing employee gardens.
The primary purpose of the Green Thumbs at Work program is to improve employee wellness,
specifically to provide a means of physical activity and stress reduction, increase access to fresh produce, and promote opportunities for other wellness activities. Employees must be the primary users of the garden and beneficiaries of the food. The garden site must be a smoke-free space.
Green Thumbs at Work grants cover materials and technical assistance for new workplace food gardens. The gardens can be in-ground or raised beds. The total grant amount is $1,750, which includes $500 for materials, a $250 Gardener’s Supply gift certificate, and $1,000 of garden planning support and technical assistance from Charlie Nardozzi and the Vermont Community Garden Network. Grantees are required to provide $250 in matching funds and $250 worth of materials or in-kind services for the garden project.
Grant timeline:
• Application Deadline: January 29 • Winners Announced: February 29
• Vermont Worksite Wellness Conference: March 30
• Garden Site Visits and Garden Planning Meetings: March/April • Ongoing Technical Assistance: March through August
• Final Garden Report Due (photos, short online report, and garden budget report): September 30
The review team made up of project partners will select grant winners based on:
1) readiness to develop a workplace garden, including the existence of a wellness coordinator or wellness team, the ability to provide matching funds and in-kind services for garden development, and permission from landowner to establish gardens;
2) employee participation, including plans for employee engagement; and 3) clear articulation of how the garden will help meet employee wellness goals.
If you have any questions about your application, contact Libby Weiland at [email protected] or (802) 861-4769.
Click on the "Next" button to begin your application.
Green Thumbs at Work 2016 Application
THIS IS A PREVIEW OF THE APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Grant Application
Contact Name: Business/ Organization Name: Address: City/Town:State:
select state
--ZIP: County: Email Address: Phone Number:
1. Contact Information
*
2. Business/ Organization Category:
*
3. Describe your business/ organization in one paragraph.
*
4. How many employees does your business/ organization have at the site?
(This grant is only for businesses/ organizations with fewer than 50 employees.)
*
5. Is contact person listed above the worksite wellness coordinator?
*
Yes
Garden Project
Green Thumbs at Work 2016 Application
The primary purpose of the Green Thumbs at Work program is to improve employee wellness, specifically to provide a means of physical activity and stress reduction, increase access to fresh produce, and promote opportunities for other wellness activities. The primary users of the garden and beneficiaries of the food must be the employees. The garden site must be a smoke-free space.
6. The grants are for starting new gardens. In some cases, they may be used for expanding existing
employee gardens. Is there currently a garden onsite?
*
Yes
No
7. If no, has there ever been a garden onsite, and what happened to it?
If yes, explain why you want to expand the garden.
8. Please describe the proposed garden site, including the area in square feet, general landscape, distance
from building, and access to water.
*
9. Has your company or organization's management (decision-makers) approved the installation of a
garden?
*
Yes
No
10. Has the property owner approved the installation of a garden on the premises? Please note: Particularly
if you organization/company does not own the property there may be additional approval processes
needed.
*
Yes
No
Not Sure
11. Is there an expressed interest among employees for a garden?
*
Yes
No
Not Sure
12. How many employees do you think will participate in the garden on a regular basis?
*
13. Will at least 3 employees be able to participate in a March/April Site Visit and Garden Planning Meeting
with Charlie Nardozzi and Vermont Community garden Network staff?
*
Yes
No
Not Sure
14. How will the garden help meet employee wellness goals?
*
15. The grant award includes garden design technical assistance from Charlie Nardozzi and Vermont
Community Garden Network staff. The types of things to consider in your planning include whether you will
use raised beds or plant directly in the ground, whether the entire space will be shared or divided into plots
for employee teams, and whether the food will be used for at-work meals or go home with employees.
*
16. How will you get employees at all levels of the organization involved with the garden?
*
Comment:
17. Matching funds are required to show commitment to the garden and ensure its sustainability. Is your
business/ organization able to provide $250 in matching funds for the project and $250 worth of in-kind
materials or labor?
*
Yes
No
18. Green Thumbs at Work grants are for one year only. How do you plan to sustain the garden in future
years?
*
Worksite Wellness
Green Thumbs at Work 2016 Application
19. Does your business/ organization participate in the Vermont Department of Health Worksite Wellness
Award Program?
*
Yes
No
Not Sure
20. Does your business/ organization have an active wellness committee?
*
Yes
No
No, and we would like to establish one
21. Does your business/ organization offer incentives for employee participation in wellness programs?
*
Yes
No
Not Sure
Other (please specify):
22. Does your business/ organization currently have any of the following?
(check all that apply)
*
Healthy food and beverage policies
Tobacco free campus
Refrigerators, microwaves, and break areas
Help for employees to get 30 minutes of physical activity a day
Support for local food initiatives
Cooking or nutrition seminars
Stress reduction activities
Healthy vending program
None
23. What NEW wellness activities would you like to implement as part of the garden project?
(check all that apply)
*
Healthy food and beverage policies
Tobacco free campus
Refrigerators, microwaves, and break areas
Help for employees to get 30 minutes of physical activity a day
Support for local food initiatives
Cooking or nutrition seminars
Stress reduction activities
Healthy vending program
24. Additional comments:
Green Thumbs at Work 2016 Application
Please click "done" below to submit your application!
Green Thumbs at Work grant winners will be notified on February 29, 2016.
If you have any questions, contact Libby Weiland at the Vermont Community Garden Network, [email protected] or (802) 861-4769.
SAVE THE DATE:
Vermont Worksite Wellness Conference and Governor’s Council Awards March 30, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington More info at http://healthvermont.gov/family/fit/worksitewellness.aspx#conference
