$7,500 in therapeutic garden grants available from National Garden Bureau

The National Garden Bureau, in collaboration with American Meadows, Ball Horticultural Company and Sakata Seed America, is now accepting applications for the annual Therapeutic Garden Grant program.

In 2025, a total of $7,500 will be awarded to five therapeutic gardens. Launched in 2014, the grant program has invested more than $55,000.

Therapeutic gardens help alleviate stress and anxiety, enhance physical health and motor skills, and foster social interaction and a connection to nature.

The application requirements are:

1. Have a defined therapeutic program, with a registered horticulture therapist on staff or serving as an adviser who uses the garden to achieve outlined goals for participants. Examples include occupational, physical, vocational or rehabilitation therapy taking place in a garden setting with significant people and plant interaction.
2. Used for job training, skill building, food growing, socialization skills, improved quality of life, environmental education or any other positive outcome that can be gained by working in nature.
3. Involves a significant number of gardeners, clients, patients, visitors or students on a monthly basis.
4. Has been in existence for at least one year.

A group of horticulture therapy experts will narrow down applications. Finalists will be asked to submit a 1-minute video featuring their program, which will be posted on social media. Voting by the public will be open from Sept. 15-30.

Applications will be accepted until July 1. Interested organizations can click here for more information and to submit their application.