2025 New Mexico Grow Project

Sustainability Agreement:

I acknowledge and commit to the following:
- To sustain the compost system at my school for 1+ years
- Attend one regional NM Ag in the Classroom compost workshop to receive kit materials and set up instructions on July 30, 2025 in Albuquerque at the AgriNature Center from 8:30-3 pm.
- I have access to a vehicle (pickup truck) to pick up kit materials at the designated date, time, and place
- To report project progress & submit photos of students, staff and community members utilizing the composter throughout the year (Photo consent forms must be attached to submissions)
- Be willing to participate in/lead teacher workshops or trainings to share expertise learned from this experience with other teachers

Purpose and Program Overview

Provide a concise overview of your school composting program. Please click on the rubric below to understand the evaluative criteria application judges will use. This application is highly competitive, so please take a moment to review the rubric.
Use this rubric to answer the questions.
1. Briefly describe your sustainability plan for the compost/vermicompost system for 1+ years. (i.e. How will you sustain the needs of the system over breaks? How will you sustain the need for browns(paper/cardboard) for your systems? What are your plans for composting after it is complete?).*
2. List the goals of your compost/vermicompost system program. How will having these materials benefit students and staff?*
3. Describe the students and grade levels who will be participating. Please include student/ staff numbers. How will they be engaged in the program? *
4. Identify community members (i.e., parents, county extension services, Master Gardener volunteers, local soil and water experts, Fred’s Worms) who will assist with your compost/vermicompost program. Relate how they will be able to contribute. *
Community Support= Successful Composting/Growing!
Helpful links for finding community partners:

NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) Local NM Offices:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/nm/contact/local/

Find your local county extension agent: https://aces.nmsu.edu/county/

Find your local NM Association of Conservation District: http://www.nmacd.org/swcds
5. How will you connect the composter/vermicompost kit to your curriculum? (i.e. CCSS, Core Content Areas, STEM, and/ or Agricultural Literacy Outcomes) How can you integrate real-world problem-solving into the composting project? *See rubric for suggestions.*
Agricultural Literacy Outcomes can be found at:

https://agclassroom.org/get/doc/NALObooklet.pdf.
6. How will you measure student learning and engagement? How will you increase agricultural literacy? (i.e. help students make connections to compost projects and their daily living) *
Ex. composting journals, teacher observation, answer to driving questions etc.
7. Describe how your school will use the system to reduce trash, improve soil health, upcycle, and make connections to NM agriculture that you plan on implementing. *
8. How do you plan to maintain your compost systems during school breaks? How will you utilize your compost system in the summer? (i.e. K5+, summer school programs, community projects) *

Please use the checklist so all information is complete before submission.

Contact Information with admin letter of supportApplication: Region, grade, # of studentsCompost Site Requirements with picturesSustainability AgreementPurpose & Program OverviewReviewed Rubric InformationClick the submit button!
Questions? E-mail shaed@nmflb.org!
Should be Empty:

New Mexico Grow Project: Turing Waste Into Wonder Application

Helpful Tips: The grant rubric, above, provides insight on how the judges will score each application. Developing a team is highly encouraged. It is recommended to type out your answers ahead of time to these questions in a document and then copy & paste them into the JotForm.

Application

Compost Site Requirements

Vermicompost Site Requirements

Purpose and Program Overview

Community Support= Successful Composting/Growing!