Mission Grant Recipients

The spring 2022 Mission Grant has been awarded to two recipients who are undertaking exciting projects to support native plantings with a public education component.

The first award will support the Manitou Seed Library, an educational and advocacy project to provide native seeds and encourage regional community gardens to plant native species appropriate to their locale. The Seed Library will use its own garden space to grow ecotypically appropriate seed of several native species, providing them at no cost. There will also be signage and on-site educational programming to help other regional gardens adopt similar programs.

The second award will support ongoing restoration activities at Montessori Peaks Academy in Littleton. The school sits on 8.5 acres and strives to provide students (grades 3 through 6) with hands-on, outdoor education. Restoration of the school property is being completed in phases (Russian olive has been removed along the property’s riparian areas and there is a pollinator garden!). The next phase is to plant native shrubs for erosion control, wildlife habitat, and additional learning opportunities for the students in their outdoor classroom.