The National Gardening Association and The Home Depot are delighted to announce the winners of the 2009 Youth Garden Grants. The 125 recipients represent exemplary school and community projects that engage youth as learners, explorers, leaders, and nurturers in outdoor garden settings. The winning programs reach children from all walks of life, supplying academic and practical life-skills instruction. 

Gardens are powerful educational tools, providing opportunities for children to experience nature while developing skills and gaining knowledge to implement healthy and sustainable lifestyles. By participating in gardening programs, students grow more than just plants; they also cultivate positive attitudes and behaviors that enhance the ongoing quality of their lives. Since 1982, Youth Garden Grants have helped more than 1.5 million youngsters reap rewards and vital life lessons from working in gardens and habitats, and thanks to the generosity of The Home Depot, that number continues to grow.

Explore the links below for inspiring stories from a few of this year’s winning programs.

Archbishop Damiano School, Westville Grove, New Jersey
Brook Knoll Elementary, Santa Cruz, California
Carrboro Elementary School, Carrborro, North Carolina
Center for Human Services, Shoreline, Washington
Center for Inquiry, Columbia, South Carolina
Hedgepeth-Williams Elementary School, Trenton, New Jersey
Worth County Primary School Outdoor Classroom, Sylvester, Georgia