Walpole, NH (September 1, 2022) – The Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) is thrilled to announce that the organization was awarded an urban agriculture conservation grant through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to boost technical capacity nationwide.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) awarded nearly $1 million in funding through the Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant initiative. CCCD was one of 31 conservation districts across 15 states to receive funding.

Since 2016, NACD has worked closely in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to deliver funding through this grant initiative, with the primary goal of increasing conservation districts’ capacity to deliver technical assistance related to urban, community, and small-scale agriculture.

In 2019, CCCD was the recipient of the same grant which created the Monadnock Grows Together initiative. In this latest grant round, CCCD will continue to build and strengthen this exciting initiative.

CCCD will continue to work in partnership with Antioch University New England's Community Garden Connections (CGC), the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), the Keene Public Library (KPL), and the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC) within Cheshire County, NH to offer technical assistance, education and equipment to urban farmers and gardeners for growing their production capacity while conserving natural resources and building climate resilience and community.

Project initiatives include:

• 1-on-1 gardening resource assistance from our Urban Agriculture & Gardens Coordinator. Office hours will be available at the Keene Public Library on Monday September 5th, September 12th, October 3rd, and October 10th from 4:30pm-6:00pm.
• Free gardening workshops through 2022-2023
• A Garden Tool Lending program at the Keene Public Library Makerspace
• Free seeds and seed saving resources at Keene Public Library

Monadnock Grows Together is currently seeking workshop proposals from community members that have a specialty in urban agriculture, food justice, soil health, community gardening, garden planning, crop rotation, and related topics.

We encourage proposals from workshop leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences! 

We are interested in workshop ideas ranging from 45 minutes to 4 hours in length. A limited number of stipends of $400 per workshop are available! Please send a brief introduction of yourself and outline the topic/content you plan on presenting to Benee Hershon: benee@cheshireconservation.org

“Conservation districts are the boots on the ground across the country, making connections and implementing projects that bolster conservation practices,” said NACD President Michael Crowder. “The Urban Agriculture Conservation Grants provide the funding to make these things happen and give a pathway to new and innovative conservation practices and programs.” 

To learn more about NACD's Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant initiative visit: https://www.nacdnet.org/about-nacd/what-we-do/urban-and-community/

To learn more about Monadnock Grows Together visit: https://www.cheshireconservation.org/monadnockgrowstogether

Free workshops for 2022-2023 will be announced soon! To receive updates regarding opportunities through Monadnock Grows Together, contact benee@cheshireconservation.org or 603-756-2988 x3011

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About The National Association of Conservation Districts:

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts, their state associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.

About The Cheshire County Conservation District:

The Cheshire County Conservation District promotes the conservation and responsible use of our natural and agricultural resources for the people of Cheshire County by providing technical, financial, and educational assistance. Our goal is to encourage the stewardship of healthy soils, productive ecologically sound farms, diverse wildlife, productive sustainable forests, healthy watersheds, and clean water to ensure those resources are available for future generations. Established in 1945, the Conservation District operates out of Walpole, NH where we work alongside the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other conservation partners. For more information contact Amanda Littleton at 603-756-2988 ext.4 or email at amanda@cheshireconservation.org

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