For more than 75 years, Ann Arbor Farm & Garden has been financially supporting the creation and maintenance of gardens and green spaces in our community. We’re passionate about sharing the health and social benefits of gardening, the importance of local farms and farmers, and the many ways we can steward and sustain our natural environment.
We’re also passionate about education – we’re lifelong learners ourselves. From our first scholarship award of $300, given at our first meeting in October 1947, Ann Arbor Farm & Garden has provided support to college students studying horticulture, agriculture, and related fields.
AAF&G has raised and distributed more than $660,000 since 1947. Many of the most familiar nonprofit groups in the area have benefited from AAF&G funding – Growing Hope, Project Grow, Edible Avalon, and Food Gatherers, to name a few.
We’ve provided years of support for the restoration and maintenance of the Greenview/Pioneer nature area and a 4-H/Master Gardeners garden project at the Washtenaw County Juvenile Center.
School gardens are special to us. We've helped establish, expand, or maintain vegetable and perennial learning gardens at elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
Many of our grants are under $1,000, but we have made major gifts to public attractions including the Gaffield Children's Garden at Matthaei Botanical Gardens ($15,000) and the Upjohn Peony Garden at Nichols Arboretum ($15,000).
Our primary fundraiser is the annual "second Saturday in June" Garden Walk. Other fundraising activities include public presentations, a silent/virtual auction, and special garden visits or mini-Walks.
A Foundation Committee oversees the grant and scholarship application process; all members are welcome to serve. Final approval of awards is made by the Board of Directors and announced each February.