Grant awarded to Garden Literacy Library in Kildare

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, at 2 p.m., community members gathered at the Kildare Community Center to celebrate a meaningful step forward for local literacy and learning. During the gathering, Cass County Judge Travis Ransom presented a $2,500 literacy grant to support the development of the Garden Literacy Library, a community- centered initiative rooted in reading, growing, and shared local stories.

The grant will help establish a small, mobile Garden Literacy Library designed to connect literacy, reading, writing, and vocabulary, to something tangible and familiar: growing food and caring for land.

As outlined in the program’s guiding framework, literacy challenges often arise not from a lack of intelligence or care, but from a lack of relevance. When learning feels disconnected from daily life, en- gagement drops. The Garden Literacy Library addresses that gap by grounding literacy in real-world experiences that families already understand, gardens, food, seasons, and community care At the heart of the initiative is a single children’s book, It All Starts With a Seed, which serves as the anchor text for the program. The book introduces young readers to themes of growth, patience, beginnings, and responsibility, setting the tone for all learning activities that follow. From this one book, multiple learning pathways emerge, without dilution or distraction The Garden Literacy Library will support Grow-Read Workshops, seasonal sessions where youth and families practice literacy by doing. Activities include reading aloud, writing in seed journals, creating garden signage, using plant identification cards to build vocabulary, and reading simple how-to guides related to soil, composting, and raised beds. Each activity reinforces reading comprehension, sequencing, and vocabulary while remaining practical and memorable.

A key feature of the Garden Literacy Library is its emphasis on local voices. Alongside published books, the library will include short, accessible stories contributed by Kildare residents, memories of what once grew in the area, reflections from childhood, poetry, and youth imagination pieces. These writings help ensure that local history and lived experience stand alongside traditional literacy materials, strengthening both reading skills and community pride Youth participation is especially important. Young writers are encouraged to imagine their town as it could be, what they hope to see when they visit the community center, return home in the future, or walk through shared garden spaces. Even when fictional, these imagination pieces build visualization, writing confidence, and vocabulary, all essential literacy skills.

The $2,500 grant will support four specific areas: 1. A small, portable Garden Literacy Library 2. Seed and soil learning materials 3. Printed literacy resources such as journals, worksheets, and labels 4. Facilitation and local coordination Every dollar is designated to support reading, writing, and vocabulary development in ways that are visible, accountable, and aligned with the approved scope of work The February 4 gathering reflected the spirit of the program itself, neighbors coming together, sharing conversation, and recognizing that literacy grows best when learning is connected to living.

As the program’s guiding message reminds us: We plant seeds in the ground, and we plant seeds in people, and both grow when they’re cared for.