Big Creek Lumber opens 2027 school garden grant applications
Applications must be submitted in person by Oct. 30
– Big Creek Lumber has opened applications for its 2027 School Garden Grant Program, which will provide 12 schools with redwood garden bed kits for school gardens and outdoor learning projects.
The program is entering its 11th year. Big Creek Lumber has awarded more than 100 grants to schools near its locations. The garden beds give students and teachers a way to learn about nutrition, agriculture, carpentry, and forestry. Students also have an opportunity to work with redwood.
“What I enjoy most about this program is delivering the garden beds and seeing how excited the students are. It’s great to know these gardens will be used and enjoyed for years to come. I’ve been doing this for ten years and it never gets old. I am again looking forward to meeting this year’s recipients and helping Big Creek Lumber provide a learning tool for the schools,” Marketing Director Michelle Webb said.
Schools can find applications and eligibility information at bigcreeklumber.com/schoolgardenbedgrants.
Applicants must return completed applications in person to a Big Creek lumberyard by Friday, Oct. 30. The company will enter all eligible schools into a random drawing and select two schools near each lumberyard.
Big Creek Lumber will deliver the 12 kits to recipient schools in early spring so students can plant their gardens in time for the growing season.
The 2026 garden bed grant recipients were:
- Saint Rose Catholic School in Paso Robles
- Trinity Lutheran School in Paso Robles
- Dan Mini Elementary School in Vallejo
- DeLaveaga Elementary School in Santa Cruz
- Elkhorn Elementary School in Castroville
- La Honda Elementary School in La Honda
- Pescadero Elementary School in Pescadero
- San Benito 4-H Juventino M. Ortiz Youth Development Center in Hollister
- Vallejo Adult School in Vallejo
- Westlake Elementary School in Santa Cruz
- Winfield Elementary School in Winton
- Winton Middle School in Winton
Big Creek Lumber Company has operated since 1946 and remains one of the state’s few family-owned lumber companies. The McCrary family has lived and worked on the Central Coast for seven generations.
The company operates a sawmill, a wholesale sales department, six retail building supply yards, a forestry department, and a logging operation. It grows, selectively harvests, and mills California coastal redwood and Douglas fir.
More information about the company, its products, and its retail yards is available at www.bigcreeklumber.com.
