2015 Action Grant Awards Announced

Earth Day Action Grants, awarded by St. Louis Earth Day, provide an opportunity for people, groups and non-profit organizations to “take action” on environmental issues and implement projects on Earth Day or throughout the year. Funding for the Earth Day Action Grants is generated through the fundraising efforts of the Earth Day Festival and support from the William A. Kerr Foundation.

Volunteer Conservation Stewards Earth Day Project – Willoughby Heritage Farm and Conservation Reserve/Collinsville Area Recreation District
Conservation Stewards will commemorate Earth Week through a service project designed specifically for their ability and classroom goals. Participating groups include SIUE, Summit Elementary, PreK, New Opportunities, CMS Hoolus, CHS Lifeskills class, and Boy Scout troops. Conservation projects range from identifying and removing exotic species, addressing erosion issues along trails, and planting trees, shrubs and milkweed.

Container Garden Educational Program – St. Anthony Food Pantry
St. Anthony Food Pantry breaks the mold by teaching clients how to maintain container gardens, since many do not have the space for an in-ground garden. Staff and volunteers plant vegetable plants from seeds and nurtures them to mature plants. Once the plants are mature, potted plants are given to food pantry clients (along with care instructions and fertilizer) so that they can enjoy fresh, home-grown produce throughout the season. About 500 families are served through this program.

Garden Resource Library – Mallinckrodt Academy (Saint Louis Public School)
Mallinckrodt Academy’s robust school garden will be further supported with books, creating a resource library to supplement the school garden and experiential learning. Books and other resources will be available for check out and utilized in an after school book club.

Seeding the Green at Midtown Farmers Market – Midwest Association of Farmers Markets
The Midtown Farmers Market in the University City Loop will be enhanced by moveable planted containers with native plants, watered by newly installed rain barrels. To increase educational and outreach opportunities, rotating organizations and city service representatives will be invited to have a booth at the market, free of charge. The Midtown Farmers Market will set up a tent and table for guest organizations to use on market day, promote their participation, and introduce them and their missions to the public.

Wentzville Tackles Single-Use Plastic Bags – City of Wentzville
As part of their Earth Force civic action project, sixth graders at Wentzville Middle School worked with the Wentzville City Council to plan a project that promotes reusable shopping bags, while reducing single-use checkout bags and the litter that plastic bags often create. Students and the City will evaluate existing infrastructure, business needs, opportunities to maximize funds, and barriers to long-term success. During the project, reusable bags will be distributed at local businesses and participants will be encouraged to make a difference through their actions.

The 2015 Sustainable Backyard Tour – Slow Food St. Louis
The main purpose of the Sustainable Backyard Tour is to paint a big picture of connectivity for residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas, explaining the importance of a healthy ecosystem and the impacts of water, soil and fossil fuels in the residential landscape. The tour coordinates dozens of backyard and garden sites for a free, self-guided tour. Tour sites showcase a range of green living practices, including low-impact lawn care, composting, creative reuse of materials, organic gardening, chicken and beekeeping, gardening with native plants, mushrooms, fruit & nut trees, rainwater conservation, pesticide and herbicide reduction, renewable energy production and backyard habitat creation. (June 14, 2014, from 11 to 4 p.m.)

Rhizoma Projects: Spreading Roots from Urban Gardens to Creative Community-based Workshops in Paper, Plants, Poetry, Books – McKinley Meadows
The Rhizoma Projects at McKinley Meadows will establish an area within the existing community garden for native plants and serve as a teaching garden for the community. Community members can come for free workshops to learn about native plants and engage in visual and literary art activities. Late summer and fall outdoor workshops will focus on decorative garden design with native plants, papermaking with plants grown in the garden, book making, and conclude with a poetry in the garden event in the fall. Projects are aimed at building relationships within the community through the act of shared experiences and creative endeavors, where neighbors of all ages can interact and build lasting relationships. McKinley Meadows was developed in 2013 on two vacant LRA lots, to provide the community with a gathering place to grow food and nurture the neighborhood.

Hydrating 13th Street Community Garden – Gateway Greening
This project will involve the installation of a freestanding waterline, or yard hydrant, at the 13th Street Community Garden in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood. The installation of a freestanding waterline will make the 13th Street Garden eligible to participation in a free water access program made possible through a partnership between Gateway Greening and the St. Louis City Water Department.

“Celebrating and Protecting God’s Creation One Recycle Bucket at a Time!” – St Francis Xavier (College) Church
In an effort to celebrate and protect God’s Creation, the newly formed Environmental Ministry is working with the pastor, staff, and church community to improve the parish’s recycling efforts through the purchase of recycling containers, as well as, going “green” with the purchase of “green” copy paper, hot/cold coffee cups, napkins, and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Grant recipients will be recognized at Earth Day Eve on Saturday, April 25 at 5:30 pm.

Ensure all qualified proposals are funded in 2016! You CAN make a difference!

Help us reach our goal of $12,000 for 2016 Earth Day Action Grants. Money raised during Earth Day Eve and the Earth Day Festival will determine available funds for the next grant cycle. Make Earth Day every day by enabling grassroots projects to spring to life!

1.  Join us at Earth Day Eve on April 25th (4 pm – 7 pm) – get a taste of the Earth Day Cafe and enjoy the music of Jake’s Leg. A small cover charge ($5 in advance, $10 at the door) supports St. Louis Earth Day and our Earth Day Action Grant program. Friends of Earth Day tickets ($35 in advance/$45 at the door) include food catered by Whole Foods Market, Bota Box wine and Schalfly beer.
2. Donate! Your donation supports the programs of St. Louis Earth Day, including our Earth Day Acton Grants.