Sowing Excellence
The Sowing Excellence program, a collaboration of the IDEA Center for Public Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden , supports the growth of plant-centered activities that tap into the potential of communities and organizations, including peer-to-peer learning opportunities and networking to support success.
Criteria
Sowing Excellence Award Criteria
- Individual, entity or organization must be based in the U.S and serve U.S. communities.
- Funds must be spent within one year of award issuance
- Plant-centric: promotes the connection between plants and people and emphasizes the significance of the role of plants in our world
- Horticulture/ Gardening (including community gardens, design, and landscaping)
- Professional Development (funds for travel, certificates, broader learning)
- Education (educating the public of all ages)
- Research (ecological, conservation, environmental)
- Arts and Exhibits
- Community Engagement (partnerships)
- Capacity building/ incubation (small business, entrepreneur, internships)
- The person/organization OR the work itself is connected with a plant-centered element.
- Participants agree to report back on results/impact. Must provide a summary for how funds are used and the impact the funds will have on work/project/etc (template will be provided).
- Agree to a communication plan and requirements (detailed in the award agreement).
- Participants can NOT be cannot be a federal entity, but municipal, county, or state is allowed.
- Funds can NOT be used for advocacy or partisan lobbying, political campaign, or put into a crowdsourcing campaign.
Sowing Excellence Participants
- Bones Bugs and Botany
- College Visitation Charities
- Dandy Ram Farm LLC
- Direct Descendants of Harris Neck Community, Inc.
- Groundwork Indy
- Inside The Husk
- Jesalyn Keziah
- Justin Robinson
- Kitskwalaweepe
- Mya Timmons
- Myrna Clayton
- Plant and People
- RedEarthMovement
- Shakita Holloway
- The Crazy Botanist, LLC
- Tyonek Tribal Conservation District
- Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe Inc.
- American Indian Resource Center
- Beth Feldman Brandt
- Black Seeds Urban Farm
- Catherine Boldt
- Deena Class
- Feather Smith
- Gangstas to Growers
- Gibson Works LLC
- Jamie Fry
- Jolly Avenue Garden
- KIK Kaeaikahelelani Inc.
- Kobinah Abdul-Salim
- Margaret Finley
- Melissa Lewis
- Mya Timmons
- Simone Cooper
- Spirit of the Sun
- The Learning Center at the Euchee Butterfly Farm
- Urban Growers Collective
