MAITC

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) awards School Garden and Greenhouse Grants up to $2,000 in support of Maine agriculture education for students in grade levels Pre-K to 12th grade. Suitable grant projects promote an understanding of the food and fiber system in the state through the infusion of agricultural concepts into the curricula.

To be eligible, applicants must be a nonprofit organization serving students within the state of Maine. Matching contributions are encouraged and may consist of support for the use of facilities, volunteer time, in-kind contributions, community involvement, and salaries. Applicants will be eligible for no more than 3 consecutive years with only 1 grant in this category per physical site or Project Director considered annually. The maximum duration of the grants will be one year. Deadline August 22, 2022.

Saccarappa Elementary School in Westbrook has been the recipient of several MAITC grants which have helped to fund their greenhouse, enabled them to purchase the equipment needed to transform their inside common areas into mini greenhouse areas during the winter months plus a hydroponics growing system which will be centrally located in their school cafeteria. Saccarappa Elementary School has a school-based gardening program which includes a beautiful outdoor space, greenhouse and thirteen raised beds. 100% of the students receive a free school lunch.

According to Guyla Woodbrey, a kindergarten teacher for over 30 years and the coordinator of the school gardening program, the funding for their greenhouse (valued at $18-20,000) came from grants plus lots of in kind donations such as lumber, carpentry, stonework, ground preparation from local businesses and individuals.

She has an active group of 4th grade helpers who do tasks like transplanting seedlings who she hopes will manage the hydroponic growing system when Covid restrictions are lifted. The project also benefits from high school seniors who donate volunteer hours as part of their community service as well as local community members.

Saccarappa Elementary School was selected as the Maine School Garden Network School Garden of the Month in November 2016. If you’d like to get in touch with Guyla, email her at woodbreyg@westbrookschools.org.

For more information about this grant: MAITC School Gardens and Greenhouse Grant.

To see a list of archived grants of past winners: MAITC Education Grants Program.

For general information on MAITC: