Co-op Seedling Grants

Read Updates from our 2022 Grant Recipients

Our Co-op Seedling Grant recipients have been hard at work since March working to strengthen our local food system. This winter, they shared their progress with us. Sterling College stewarded indigenous crop varietals. Spoonful Herbals advanced herbal justice and mutual aid while connecting more deeply to the land we live on. And the Fairfield Community Center had an old-fashioned barn-raising for their new pizza oven. Check out all our grant recipient updates in the grid below!

Two people in a library speaking to families seated on the floor.
Six people stand in a row in a white-walled conference room. The two people in the middle are holding a sign that has "Milk With Dignity" printed at the top and "$7,500" printed at the bottom.

What Are Seedling Grants?

Through our Co-op Seedling Grant program, City Market grants funding to projects from Vermont non-profit organizations whose work strengthens our local food system. The Seedling Grants will be the 50% Rally for Change partner for four separate months in FY23 & FY24 to fund this year's Grants Program. 

Sterling College

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Three people hold a sign that reads "Sterling College - Dawnland Heritage Garden and Black River Seed Library - $7,500"

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The Janet S. Munt Family Room

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Three people hold a sign that reads "The Janet S. Munt Family Room - Family Play at the Garden - $5,000"

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Fairfield Community Center Association

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Three people are holding a sign that reads "The Fairfield Community Center - Growing local connections through gardens and pizza - $3,950"

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Center for an Agricultural Economy

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Three people are holding a sign that reads "Center for an Agricultural Economy - Produce to Pantries - $3,420"

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Rural Vermont

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Five people hold a sign that reads "Rural Vermont - The Vermont Wild Kitchen - $3,330"

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Spoonful Herbals

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Five people hold a sign that reads "Spoonful Herbalism - Greater Burlington Area Mutual Aid: Food and Herbal Justice - $3,300"

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Friends of Fletcher Free Library

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Five people are holding a sign that reads "Fletcher Free Friends - Early childhood literacy and prenatal nutrition counseling - $2,500"

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LUND

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Four people are holding a sign that reads "LUND - Growing Food, Growing Families, Growing Hope - $2,500"

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Slow Food Vermont

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Three people hold a sign that reads "Slow Food Vermont - Plant a Seed - $1,000"

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Seedling Grant History

During profitable years, City Market Members receive patronage checks based on their spending as a form of profit-sharing. According to City Market’s By-Laws, any Patronage Refunds that are not cashed within 90 days are donated to organizations supporting our local food system, as directed by our Board. In 2014, City Market created a new program to offer grants through our uncashed Patronage Refund checks – our Seedling Grant Program! Since 2018, this program has been funded through Rally for Change as the Co-op works toward a return to profitability after our South End expansion.

Five people stand in front of a building with sliding doors and a marquee that reads "City Market." There is a red ribbon in front of the people and all along the entrance to the building. The person to the farthest left is talking, and the other four face him. At the far right, several additional people are standing and clappng.

Past Seedling Grant Recipients

2022: Sterling College, Janet S. Munt Family Room, Fairfield Community Center Association, Center for an Agricultural Economy, Rural Vermont, Spoonful Herbals, Friends of Fletcher Free Library, LUND, and Slow Food Vermont

2021: Community Health Centers of Burlington, Common Roots, Boys & Girls Club of Burlington, Milk With Dignity Standards Council, and Age Well

2020: 350 VermontACORNBarton Community GardenNew Community ProjectNOFA-VT, and UVM State Agricultural College

2019: Janet S. Munt Family RoomTrinity Children's CenterFarm at VYCCAALV New Farms for New AmericansLund VTHOPE (Addison County)Pathways VT (Soteria House)HANDSCVOEO, and UVM Extension

2018:  Age WellCommunity Health Centers of BurlingtonThe Howard CenterMilk with DignityUnited Way of Lamoille CountyUVM Plant & Soil Science, and Winooski Partnership for Prevention

2017:  Burlington High School's Richard Meyer's Food Science ClassThe Intervale CenterJanet S Munt Family RoomThe Schoolhouse Learning CenterUVM Foundation, and Downtown Winooski 

2016: Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf: Farm Stand ProjectIntervale Center: Trail Extension ProjectRural Vermont: Regenerative Agriculture ProjectSalvation Farms: Food Hub Workforce Training ProgramSpoonful Herbals: Herb MobsSustainability Academy PTO: Processing/Cooking KitUniversity of Vermont: Plugging a "Leek" in the Local Food System and Vermont Community Garden Network: Gardens for Learning

2015: Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf: Farm Stand ProjectIntervale Center: Trail Extension ProjectRural Vermont: Regenerative Agriculture ProjectSalvation Farms: Food Hub Workforce Training ProgramSpoonful Herbals: Herb MobsSustainability Academy PTO: Processing/Cooking KitUniversity of Vermont: Plugging a "Leek" in the Local Food System and Vermont Community Garden Network: Gardens for Learning

2014:  Pine Island Farm: Chicken CollaborativeLiving Well Group: Farm to Care ProgramUniversity of Vermont: Establishing a Swede Midge Damage Threshold for Brassica CropsThe Schoolhouse Learning Center: Taking Root: The Farm, Food, Forest (FFF) Program, and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf: Food Shelf Mobile Pantry and Transport Trailer

Past Seedling Grant Award Ceremonies

Due to COVID-19, we were not able to have in-person awards ceremonies in 2020 and 2021. Prior to 2020, we recorded our Seedling Grant Award Ceremonies. These gatherings presented a wonderful opportunity for grant recipients to meet with us, each other, and public officials to celebrate their impressive work and make connections. 

2018

2017

2015