NCTA awarded grant for community garden

CURTIS, Nebraska -- Money doesn't grow on trees but it sure will help grow a community garden and serve as a possible pilot project for rural development and community outreach.

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Rural Futures Institute for a community garden project being launched this summer at the Curtis campus.

Annually, the University of Nebraska - based RFI hosts competitive grant opportunities for Nebraskans to encourage collaborations, said Kim Peterson, RFI's outreach program specialist .

A "Successful Teaching & Engagement" grant features curriculum development tied to partnerships between students, faculty and community agencies/programs for service learning or engagement.

Funding will be awarded July 1, for garden and farmers' market activities in Curtis in 2014 and 2015. The grant will fund salaries for a program manager, student employees and interns, and start - up supplies.

"This is exciting for NCTA to be recognized by the Rural Futures Institute," said NCTA Dean Ron Rosati. "We look forward to growing a garden together, with the community members who make the college more than an academic institution. This can give us all a sense of unity and tangible, collaborative results."

Project coordinator will be Tee Bush, NCTA's assistant professor of horticulture. A key component will be participation by 4 - H youth and clubs, in addition to college students and community residents, said Dr. Brad Ramsdale, chairman of NCTA's agronomy / horticulture division. "One goal is to partner with the University of Nebraska Extension Service through Frontier County in working with 4 - H youth and provide a mentoring and service opportunity with NCTA's horticulture students," Ramsdale said. The project encourages college student involvement in providing services to help meet the community's needs; integrates meaningful student service experiences into the curriculum; and builds curriculum - based reflection activities to enhance student learning , Peterson said . Students will keep journals about their interactions and teaching experiences, Bush noted. "We are making ties with the community, college, youth and bringing it all together." The community garden w ill be located southwest of Ag Hall on the NCTA campus. Additional information is available from M r s. Bush at 308 - 367 - 5226 or at tbush@unl.edu .