Entries for the third “New Jersey School Garden of the Year” contest presented by Edible Jersey Magazine and the New Jersey Farm to School Network will be accepted starting January 21, 2015 running through March 31, 2015.

Open to any New Jersey pre-K to 12 school or childcare center, applicants must have had a school garden open during the 2013-2014 school year and be able to provide documentation through model-release photos of its uses and existence.

Gardens must be in established indoor or outdoor settings utilizing experiential, garden-based learning. Indoor, rooftop, greenhouse, raised beds, aquaponic, hydroponic and container gardens are considered acceptable for application to the contest as well.

Entries will be judged by a committee of representatives of the following organizations: Edible Jersey, New Jersey Farm to School Network, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, NJ Nursery and Landscape Association, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and the New Jersey Alliance for Environmental Education.

The “Overall Winning Garden” will receive a $1500 prize at an award ceremony hosted at the garden sometime in mid-May. Additional awards will be given to schools that represent notable practices in Nutrition Education, Environmental Education and Community Outreach. New this year is a “Best Rookie Garden” award for consideration of newly established gardens under two years old.

2015 BONUS AWARD!: An “indoor school garden” Mobile Edible Wall Unit donated by Green Living Technologies of Rochester, New York will be awarded to a randomly selected school chosen out of all contest entries.

This year’s sponsors include Eastern Produce Council, Applegate Farms, Edible Gardens, NJ School Nutrition Association, Sustainable Fare and AgWorks Consulting.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2015. CLICK HERE for more information and entry page.

For more information, visit www.njfarmtoschool.org, email [email protected] or call 609.577.5113.