People's Garden Initiative — USDA | Small Farm Fund Finder

Recognition, technical support, seeds, and networking for community and school gardens that grow food locally and teach growing practices. Low-lift entry point for urban growers.

Typical award: In-kind support and technical assistance
Deadline: Rolling registration
Type of support: Technical assistance · Urban & innovative production
Who can apply: Non-profit, Other, Individual producer
Fits these operations: Urban farm, Vegetables & produce, Mixed / diversified

The eligibility and application details below are general guidance for this kind of program, not text copied from the funder. The facts above — who runs it, how much, and when it closes — are hand-checked. Always confirm specifics on the official page.

Am I eligible?

Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply
Non-profits, co-ops, and community organizations may apply
Active SAM.gov registration and UEI number required before award
Must be in compliance with USDA/federal program rules (AGI limits, conservation compliance)
No cost to the producer in most cases — advising, not funding

How to apply

1Contact USDA through the official page and describe your operation
2Schedule an intake call or farm visit
3Agree on a scope of work — what questions you need answered
4Work through the recommendations and follow up as your season changes

What you'll need

Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
Short description of your operation and acreage
The specific question or bottleneck you want help with
Any existing records, maps, or plans that give context

Timeline & contact

Usually days to a few weeks from first contact to real help

Get help: USDA — your local USDA Service Center or state office can walk you through it

Ready to apply?

Applications go through USDA, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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