Gainesville-based Florida Agriculture in the Classroom Inc. provides funds to plant school gardens and other classroom projects regarding Sunshine State agriculture, according to a news release from the University of Florida.
The teacher grants, totaling about $34,000, helped teach 6,300 students around the state and were announced in March.
The nonprofit organization uses funds for the projects though sales of agricultural specialty license plates called the Ag Tag, the news release said.
Some of the projects funded this year include:
- “Bodacious Berries” — Fifth-graders at Fred Wild Elementary in Sebring are planting, growing and harvesting strawberries from a hydroponics growing system.
- “Farming for snacks” — Pre-kindergartners in Aurora learn about blueberries by growing them in the school garden.
- “Fourth-grade garden” — Students at Dayspring Christian Academy in Jackson County learn about commodities that grow in the area, particularly potatoes and onions.