| 2020 Cycle News, Grantee Map, January Gardening Tips, and More! |
2020 Application Review Underway
The CCG Advisory Committee is hard at work reviewing 37 applications submitted for funding consideration in the 2020 Grant Cycle. The CCG team is pleased by the high number of applicants in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused far-ranging impacts to planning and implementing community projects. We understand the difficulty of coalescing a community during turbulent times and are inspired by the many initiatives set forth in the 2020 Applications, including new gardens, murals, tile mosaics, apprenticeship programs, and beautification. With so many impactful projects on the horizon we are optimistic for a bright 2021.
2020 Cycle Applicant Overview:
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Community Challenge Grants: 27 Applicants, $2.8M in requested funding, top three project focus areas included neighborhood amenities, urban greening, and public art. Notably, four out of ten applicants applied to the program for the first time.
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Eastern Neighborhoods Grants: 6 Applicants, $629K in requested funding, top project focus area of urban greening.
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Watershed Stewardship Grants: 4 Applicants, $557K in requested funding, top project focus areas of rain water harvesting and green infrastructure.
Upcoming Cycle Dates:
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Advisory Committee Review: December 2020 to February 2021
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Award Announcement: March 2021
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2021 CCG Applicant Survey
As part of our multi-year research and assessment program, the CCG has released an applicant survey to capture the opinions, impacts and recommendations resulting from recent program changes. Invitations were distributed by email in mid-January to 2019 and 2020 grant applicants only. Responses are anonymous to ensure honest opinions are expressed, and both funded/unfunded applicants are invited to participate.
As of writing, the CCG has received responses from approximately 25% of our invited participants. If you applied for funding in the 2019 and/or 2020 Grant Cycles, we want to hear from you. Please check your email for response instructions or email us for access.
Results from the 2021 Applicant Survey will be distributed later this spring once collected and analyzed.
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Introducing the Grantee Map
Find Community Challenge, Eastern Neighborhoods, and Watershed Stewardship Grants in your neighborhoods by using our interactive map. Displayed projects include grants awarded from the 2019 Application Cycle (2020 Awardees). We plan to add additional grant year data in the future, as well as images of completed projects.
For the best experience, we recommend viewing the map on a desktop computer to allow sufficient room for the tool-tip, a menu that displays at left with project information, to render on your screen.
Navigation Tips:
- Projects are organized by grant program, each with their own distinctive color and icon style.
- Double click to zoom in on the map, or use the + and - icons in the bottom left hand corner to zoom in. Use a single click and drag motion to move around the map.
- Click the upper right hand corner icon to maximize the map in your browser's window.
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January Gardening Tips
January is typically one of the coolest and dampest months of the year in Northern California. While many of us are spending cozy time indoors, there is much work to be done in the garden. Here are some of our top tips for the month of January, or for late winter in general:
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Clean up from the prior year. Rake up accumulated leaves and other matter that may impact the moisture level of the top soil. This will also prevent water run off and allow winter rains to soak more deeply into the soil for the drier months ahead.
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Review your inventory of seeds. Seeds do not last forever, and their likelihood of sprouting declines over time. When you first purchase and use seeds, it is useful to label the original use date (some masking tape and a sharpie will do the trick for labeling packets) for any leftover seeds to be used later. Many seed producers provide viability charts that show how long seeds will last that can be referenced against the use date. Most seeds should be stored in cool, dark and slightly humid environments to enhance longevity.
- If you plan to grow spring annuals from seed, then plant them now. Be sure to amend your soil before planting and consult with a local nursery for recommendations on how to balance soil. Aim to sow all seeds by mid-February to have flowers in April and May.
- Certain plants and flowers, including bareroot fruit trees and roses, become available at this time of year. These are excellent additions to a garden and there will be plentiful choices in your local nursery. You’ll want to ensure you plant bareroot specimens as soon as you purchase them to ensure they get off to a good start.
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Prune your deciduous fruit trees, but be sure to do so with tools that are sterile, and routinely sterilized between trees, in order to prevent the spread of possible disease. A rag soaked with isopropyl alcohol can be used to clean your gardening tools for this purpose.
- When winter rains arrive, observe where water flows in your garden. If you see sitting or accumulated water, consider strategies to fix the issue so the soil does not become waterlogged. Adding drainage or bioswales planted with water-absorbing plants can fix the majority of drainage issues. Bioswales reduce runoff and help restore stormwater to the ground after naturally filtering it.
For more ideas, check out the Monthly Garden Checklist prepared by University of California's Master Gardeners' Program.
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Calling All Photographers!
The CCG is seeking photographs from completed projects, past and present, to feature in an expanded online photo gallery and our website. Please send us your high resolution images with captions and attribution (please include the project name, project street address, and photographer -- if known). Please note that not all photographs submitted can or will be featured.
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