To this day my parents live in a house they bought when I was about 2 1/2 years old. It was on the edge of town on old farm land and when we arrived the chicken coop was still up along with an equipment shed and a small orchard. For a good deal of the year we grew most of what we needed right in our back yard. I still love to garden and I hold a deep respect for those who work the land and those who live in the rural communities.

This week’s pick provides funding for improvement in rural communities. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), one of the world’s largest agricultural processors, is currently soliciting applications for its 2007 Community Partnership Grants. Their granting mission is to “strengthen agricultural areas of the United States by funding community improvement projects”. Nonprofit, educational or community organizations where ADM operates are eligible. (I counted about 40 states on that list).

The deadline to submit is June 30, 2007. Four grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded. Applications can be found online at:
http://www.admworld.com/pdf/ADMGrantApplication2007.pdf