SEED BALL STEWARDSHIP KIT GRANT

Your school can join the global movement to support pollinator populations!

This unique Stewardship Grant Programprovides schools with seed ball materials, including noninvasive seeds, clay, and soil, to plant as food for bees and other pollinators. You will also be granted access to our Asynchronous and Synchronous STEM Lessons through this program.

There is no cost to schools and nonprofits, thanks to the generous support of our corporate sponsors and grantors.

This is grant will be closing on March 17, 2024.

What are Seed Balls?

Seed balls are natural clay balls, full of seeds and soil. They can be easily dispersed to grow plants of all types without the need to dig holes or till land!

Want to make a seed ball? Click here for instructions!

Seed Balls and Bees

Since urbanization and modern agricultural practices have decreased pollinator habitats, it is important to bolster the nutritional landscape for bees and other pollinators. One way to do this is to take action by planting more food for our foraging friends! At Planet Bee, we make seed balls full of the native wildflower seeds endemic to the area with our students and visitors at public events.

Seed Ball History and Impact

Making seed balls is an ancient agricultural technique, which has regained popularity in modern times. Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese philosopher and natural farmer born in 1913, and is the person often attributed with improving and popularizing this planting technique.

“Fukuoka believed that tillage over large areas is laborious, destructive to soil health, and ultimately not needed and thus a waste of time and energy. Thus, seed balls have become an important aspect of many natural farming and conservation enterprises around the world.” Andrew Schreiber, Permaculture Research Institute

A Community-Driven Success Story

In the early 1970s, New York City had endured riots and watched neighborhoods decline to abandon, as apartment buildings fell down and empty lots took their place. Artist Liz Christy began tossing what she referred to as “seed green-aids” into vacant lots. She filled water balloons with seeds, soil, and water, and threw them over fences, watching the contents scatter as the balloons burst on the ground. This practice is the definition of “guerrilla gardening” and was a first step in revitalizing the city by converting lots into gardens. By the 1980s, NYC was home to 800 community gardens!

Beeyond HarvestED Material Kit Grant

Calling all formal and informal educators. Apply now for a Beeyond HarvestEd Materials Kit Grant!

This grant is now closed.

WHAT IS THE BEEYOND HARVESTED DIGITAL TOOL KIT?

Presenting our cutting-edge classroom garden and agriculture program, Beeyond HarvestED, strategically crafted to nurture sustainability-minded perspectives among students in grades K-6. This initiative is aligned with educational standards, specifically emphasizing adherence to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for grades 3-5.

WHAT IS INSIDE THE BEEYOND HARVESTED DIGITAL TOOL KIT?

Beeyond HarvestED showcases asynchronous STEM digital toolkits comprised of five units that can be accessed by educators and learners nationwide at no cost. The toolkit includes engaging instructional videos, interdisciplinary activities, collaborative projects, whole-group lessons, and more, making Beeyond HarvestED an invaluable resource for cultivating future leaders dedicated to championing the health of our planet. It delves into critical topics such as food waste, soil health, sustainable food production, pollinator impact, and more.

MATERIAL GRANT KIT ELIGIBILITY

This grant is open to all educators in the USA!Material Kits for formal and informal educators in PA, MD, WV, or VA schools are sponsored by The GIANT Company. Not in these states? You will be put on a waiting list as we consistently seek funding opportunities for our programs, which are accessible to schools nationwide.Applicants that are not awarded will receive an acknowledgment email with a link to Beeyond HarvestED Digitial Tool Kit and supplies list to purchase supplies or use what they currently have in their classroom.

GRANT PERIOD

This is a rolling grant and will remain open as long as supplies last.

Please feel free to contact us at programs@ajbcoaching.com with any questions or to follow up on your request. We appreciate your support of our program, and thank you for helping to feed the bees!-

All curriculum is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards.

Special thanks to our premier sponsor, The GIANT Company!

CALLING ALL EXPERIENCED BEEKEEPERS IN PENNSYLVANIA!

In partnership with the PA Department of Food and Agriculture, Planet Bee Foundation is proud to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Planet Bee Apiculture Training Program: The Sustainable Honey Path. The Sustainable Honey Path is a two-year-long apprenticeship program, starting Spring 2024, that provides a pathway to knowledge, tools, and guidance in apiculture and honey production from local beekeepers and honey producers to aspiring beekeepers. Planet Bee Foundation will select and work with 5 Beekeeping Mentors and assign them mentees in their community to train in apiculture and honey production, with the goal of mentees gaining the skills to seek employment in the beekeeping industry. Planet Bee will provide the necessary equipment for each mentor and mentee pair to establish a hive and manage it throughout the 2-year duration of the grant program. Mentors will be compensated $1000 annually and paid out monthly for their expertise and mentorship. Planet Bee will also provide educational content and administrative support for each mentor and mentee to ensure their success in the program.

ELIGIBILITY

• Beekeeping mentors must commit to the 2-year duration of the program
• Mentors must have an apiary or space for a new hive to be established with their mentee
• Mentors must reside and conduct all of their beekeeping practices in Pennsylvania
• Mentors are expected to meet with their mentees a minimum of once a month to conduct beekeeping training or review educational content

GRANT GUIDELINES

• Mentees will be required to evaluate the progress of their mentees and provide constructive feedback on a monthly basis.
• Mentors will be required to report periodic progress updates about the training done with their mentee to Planet Bee Foundation

DEADLINE

The deadline for mentor applicant submissions is January 15, 2024

Grantees will be selected and announced by January 24, 2024

Visit our Seed Ball Making Instructions Page!

BECOME A SPONSOR!

Corporations or grantmakers looking to make a difference for our planet can join our efforts by becoming sponsors of our Seed Ball Kit Program! Please contact partners@ajbcoaching.com for more information.

Special thanks to The GIANT Company for sponsoring education programs and grant programs in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland!

Sources

Schreiber, Andrew. “MAKING SEEDBALLS: AN ANCIENT METHOD OF NO-TILL AGRICULTURE” //permaculturenews.org/2014/06/18/making-seedballs-ancient-method-till-agriculture/

Brooks, Steve and Marten, Gerry. “Green Guerillas: Revitalizing Urban Neigborhoods with Community Gardens (New York City, USA)” //www.ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/usa-new-york-community-garden-urban-renewal.html

BEE A HERO GRANT

Planet Bee is proud to partner with Farnell to offer the 2023 Bee A Hero Grant to Backyard Beekeepers and Community Organizations.

 Together, Farnell and Planet Bee are building a green-minded generation by bringing communities together through the wonder of bees and beekeeping in North America. Through their Helping Bees, People, and the Planet Initiative, Farnell will be awarding mini-grants ranging from $500 - $1,000.

THIS GRANT HAS CLOSED. GRANT RECIPIENTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER 2023

is committed to supporting international charitable organizations and initiatives, as well as smaller local charities that make a great impact on local communities. From supporting global educational projects for children to supporting local beekeepers and protecting the bee population, they have taken steps to drive positive impact. Farnell is launching a global quest to save the bee population across the world and is aiming to save 3,000,000 bees in the next 12 months. 

Grant Eligibility
This grant opportunity is available to backyard beekeepers, schools, and community organizations that strive to support their local environment through beekeeping, build community or increase diversity in agriculture and/or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

Applications must address one or more of the focus areas below through beekeeping:

• Provide education to students about bees
• Support communities and local environment
• Increase diversity in agriculture and technology fields

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until September 2023. Late submissions will not be considered. 

Our review committee will carefully evaluate each application based on its alignment with our mission, feasibility, meaningful impact, and the capacity of the organization to execute the proposed project successfully.

Grant Guidelines 
Awardees will be required to write a blog quarterly sharing the progress of their projects and how they are creating green-minded generations by focusing on the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), supporting local communities, and increasing diversity in agriculture.

HEALING OUR PLANET BEEKEEPERS IN NEED GRANT

Planet Bee is proud to partner with The GIANT Company to offer the 2023 Healing Our Planet Beekeepers in Need Grant Program. 

Together we have brought environmental education to students and educators in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, established bee hives in community gardens, and fostered awareness about bees’ importance to our food system. Through our partnership and work with bees and other pollinators, helping to create a green-minded generation by teaching environmental stewardship techniques and empowering others to build long-lasting care of struggling bee populations.

THIS GRANT HAS CLOSED. PLEASE CHECK BACK JUNE 2024

The GIANT Company is committed to the health of the planet and the health of our local communities by supporting local beekeepers, as bees play a crucial role in pollinating the food that is brought to the family table each day. The GIANT Company will be awarding up to $2,000 in grants to beekeepers in need. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• This grant is for any commercial beekeeper, backyard beekeeper, or beekeeper organization that has experienced a loss of colonies due to theft, harsh winters, vandalism, or other causes.

• Applicants can reside outside of the geographic area, but apiaries must be maintained in the counties listed below:

  • Maryland: Alleghany, Carroll, Cecil, and Washington counties.

  • Pennsylvania: Adams, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Snyder, Union and York counties.

  • Virginia: Augusta, Clarke, Culpeper, Frederick, Rockingham, and Warren counties.

  • West Virginia: Berkeley, Jefferson, and Mineral counties.

Grant Timelines:

THIS GRANT HAS CLOSED

• Grant will open on May 15, 2024. Online submissions only. No applications will be accepted by post or email.

• All grant applications will be accepted until 8:00 pm EST on May 31, 2024. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.

• Grant winners will be announced in early June 2024.