March 2026 | Issue #175 Click 'View Entire Message' to make sure you don't miss important information! | | |
Nutrients for Life is hosting the #MadePossibleByFertilizer Digital Contest, where “creativity meets science to tell the story of fertilizer.” Fertilizer fuels plant growth, supports sustainability, and helps feed the world — but its story is often untold, and this contest invites middle and high school students nationwide to bring that story to life through digital creativity.
Students grades 7-12 are challenged to create a digital project that shows how fertilizer connects science, sustainability, and feeding the world. Strong projects start with solid science, so students will explore fertilizer concepts, nutrient cycles, and sustainability practices to build a foundation for their entry.
Students can choose from three creative paths:
· Video: Create a 30-second to 2-minute video showing fertilizer’s role in feeding the world.
· Digital Poster: Turn science into art by digitally creating their own masterpiece.
· Social Media Campaign: Build a 3–5 post campaign using #MadePossibleByFertilizer.
There are $14,000 in prizes, including an Overall Champion award of $5,000, 1st place in each category at $1,500, 2nd place at $1,000, and 3rd place at $500.
Submissions are open, and due on April 1, 2026. Winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2026. This is a great opportunity for students to tell the story and share the science.
For full contest rules, guidelines, and details, please click here. Questions can be directed to contest@nutrientsforlife.org.
Don't forget! There are all kinds of lessons relating to soil science on MAITC's Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix. Start your learning here!
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White-Reinhardt grants for the 2026-2027 School Year will open on March 1!
The White-Reinhardt Grant Program funds projects to increase agricultural literacy. County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants for programs for grades K-12 in order to initiate new ag literacy programs or expand existing programs. Organizations and individual schools can work with their local Farm Bureaus to apply.
Funding is not available for mileage, field trips, wages and benefits, safety
programs, or one-time consumable products. The intent is to build capacity by funding items that can be used repeatedly.
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Maple Sugaring Curriculum
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute has put together an educator resource document for the 2026 Maple Sugaring Season with a lens towards climate impacts and data literacy. Click here for an awesome list with linked curriculum, lessons, games, how-to's, and even Indigenous connections and considerations!
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School Gardens Selected for the 2027 School Garden of the Month Calendar!
The Maine School Garden Network announces that the following school gardens in Maine have been selected to be featured in the 2027 School Garden of the Month Calendar!
- Brixham Montessori, York, Maine
- Edgecomb Elementary School, Edgecomb, Maine
- Falmouth Public Schools, Falmouth, Maine
- Great Salt Bay Community School, Damariscotta, Maine
- Holden Elementary School, Holden, Maine
- Monroe Elementary School, Monroe, Maine
- Oxford Elementary School, Oxford, Maine
- Seedlings to Sunflowers, Gorham, Maine
- South Bristol School, South Bristol, Maine
- Stratton School, Stratton, Maine
- Thomaston Grammar School, Thomaston, Maine
- Troy Howard Middle School, Belfast, Maine
The 2027 calendar will be available for purchase starting in May 2026.
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The 12 schools entered photographs of their school gardens and were selected by a Review Committee in late January. In addition to being in the calendar, each school will be featured as a School Garden of the Month throughout 2027 with a profile in the newsletter and website.
Edgecomb Elementary School was also selected as the School Garden of the Year 2027 and will have an additional photograph featured on the calendar cover!
The winning photographs will be revealed at the Calendar Preview Party held at Maine School Garden Day on Saturday, May 9th at Thomaston Grammar School in Thomaston, Maine.
Sponsored by Maine Agriculture in the Classroom and the Maine Ag License Plate, the Calendar Preview Party will include gifts for the winning schools from Fedco Seeds plus a special dessert.
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Grades K-2
The Soil We Grow In
Students determine the importance and complexity of the Earth’s soil.
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Grades 3-5
Plant Growth Affects the Soil
Students define nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as soil nutrients, explain that plants use soil nutrients as they grow, discover that fertilizer replaces depleted nutrients, and analyze information on seed packets to determine the needs different plants have for growth.
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Grades 9-12
Plant-Soil Interactions
Students will explain the roles of diffusion and active transport in moving nutrients from the soil to the plant, describe the formation of soil and soil horizons; and describe the events in the Great Dust Bowl, how they relate to soil horizons, and how those events affected agricultural practices.
| | Looking for more? Explore the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix HERE | | When the dust storms of the 1930s threatened to destroy U.S. farming and agriculture, Hugh Bennett knew what to do. For decades, he had studied the soils in every state, creating maps showing soil composition nationwide. He knew what should be grown in each area, and how to manage the land to conserve the soil. He knew what to do for weathering and erosion. To do that, he needed the government's help. But how do you convince politicians that the soil needs help? Hugh Bennett knew what to do. He waited for the wind. This is the exciting story of a soil scientist confronting politicians to encourage them to pass a law to protect the land, the soil. When the U.S. Congress passed a law establishing the Soil Conservation Service, it was the first government agency in the world dedicated to protecting the land, to protecting the Earth. | |  | Under Your Feet delves beneath the Earth's surface and explores the diverse wonders hidden there. Encounter creatures of the deep and marvel at the mind-boggling size of the humongous fungus—the biggest organism in the world. Learn how one handful of ordinary soil contains more organisms than there are people on Earth, and carry out experiments using dirt from your own back garden. | | | |
Funding from this plate impacts up to 200,000 students annually with lessons, materials, volunteers and teacher training. Additionally, up to $60K is distributed annually in grants to schools, FFA, 4-H and other Non-profit programs for Ag education initiatives by the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council.
Learn more about the Ag plate here.
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Our Mission Statement
"To promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public"
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28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207)287-5522
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