Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens just announced the first-ever recipients of its Rooted in Community program—a new initiative helping local groups bring beauty, sustainability and fresh produce across the Birmingham area.

Read on to learn all the details about this great new initiative.

Meet some of the inaugural grantees

Launched earlier in 2025, Rooted in Community offers $500 grants to support grassroots gardening and beautification efforts. From edible gardens tackling food insecurity to pollinator-friendly landscapes and therapeutic horticulture projects, the program is all about making our shared spaces greener and more connected.

Fifteen organizations were selected for the inaugural round. Here are just a few highlights:

Canterbury UMC’s Books to Prisons program used its grant to build garden beds at the Birmingham Work Release Center
Oak Mountain Middle School is growing its student gardening club
Preschool Partners upgraded their alphabet garden for curious little learners
Urban Ministry is refurbishing tools for the West End Community Garden

Other awardees include Birmingham Urban Gardeners, Creative Enrichment Inc., Girls Inc., Holt Community Garden and the YWCA, with projects spanning from Crestwood North to Fairfield to Highland Park.

Get involved with BBG

Want to get involved? Applicants must live or work in the community they’re greening and be 18+ (or have an adult sponsor). The next application round opens in March 2026, so start dreaming up your garden plans now.

Learn more about the initiative and how to apply here. Here’s to growing your green thumb!

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