REAP 2008-1 Applicant: Almeida FSVSF Title: Reforestation of the Ecuadorian Rain Forest In affiliation with: New Community Project, Elgin, IL (David Radcliff) Allocated Funds: $3,000	Funded Activities: Fundacion Selva: Vida Sin Fronteras (or FSVSF) started a pilot rainforest revegetation project to combat carbon dioxide rise, climate change, and increasing hunger and disease associated with overexploitation of the rainforest. The REAP funds provide economic support for indigenous co-workers and settlers who are re-introducing native trees and other native plants to areas thought beyond reclamation and maintaining a medicinal plant nursery to propagate and catalogue plants commonly used by local shamans in treating disease and other maladies. These efforts will further sustainable development and provide needed alternative income to impoverished residents of the Amazon Rain Forest.
REAP 2008-2 Applicants: Dan & Margo Royer-Miller Title: Education and Training in Biological Intensive Agriculture In affiliation with: Ecology Action, Willits CA 95490 Allocated Funds: $2500	Funded Activities: Basic living expenses support for a final year of apprenticeship with Ecology Action; providing on-site teaching of interns and participants in tours and workshops and eight classes at Common Ground Garden Supply Store and Education Center. We will continue our five-bed-unit for personal garden research and support Ecology Action through answering communications that arrive through e-mail and the web contact forms. Other anticipated achievements are advancement in fava bean seed selection, creation of a condensed and easily translated handbook on GROW BIOINTENSIVE, and work on our diet resulting in more from-the-garden recipes for the newsletter.
REAP 2008-3 Applicant: Ezekial Compton, New Orleans, LA Title: Soil Health Tests in New Orleans Lower 9th Ward In affiliation with: Common Ground Relief, www.commongroundrelief.org Allocated Funds: $700	Funded Activities: Soil health testing for bio and environmental remediation of soils in the lower 9th Ward of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Soil testing is the first step in determining soil toxicity from arsenic, lead, mercury, salt, etc. assist bioremediation efforts and homeowner reconstruction loans that require a soil test. Currently, local soil tests take three months and faster turn-around is needed. Requested funds will provide materials for rapid testing of soil, water, and compost and include use of test strips for Arsenic, nitrate, phosphate, pH and hand meters for measuring conductivity (salt content) and temperature.
REAP 2008-4 Applicant: Tom Benevento, Harrisonburg, VA Title: Growing Power! and Urban Farm Project In affiliation with: New Community Project www.newcommunityproject.org Allocated Funds: $2800 ($2500 matching grant from Shenandoah Resource Conservation & Development Council)	Funded Activities: An urban organic market garden will be used to train and hire homeless people as farm interns and couriers to transport produce to market using bicycles with trailers. Growing Power! will use raised-bed home gardens and home energy efficiency to improve life, nutritional ($500 organic produce), and environmental quality for 30 low income families. Families will receive orientation visits from a garden and energy mentor, energy audit, compact fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostat, weatherization supplies, efficient shower head, pipe and heater insulation, and hot water heater set at 115 degrees F resulting in saving $300- $800 on energy bills annually.
REAP 2008-5 Applicant: Ingrid Kirst, Community Crops, Lincoln, NE Title: Sustainable Agriculture Training & Education In affiliation with: Community CROPS (www.communitycrops.org ) Allocated Funds: $2450	Funded Activities: Community CROPS urban agriculture project provides garden plots, farm plots and technical assistance to low-income, refugee and immigrant families to grow food for themselves and new farming businesses. We expanded to twelve garden sites with over 100 gardening families in 2007. Three of eleven farm families from Bosnia, Iraq, and Mexico sold food at local farmers' markets, grocery stores and restaurants. CROPS requests partial funding for a farm manager and AmeriCorps member to aid gardeners and farmers in gardening and crop training, establishing business and marketing plans, and English tutoring to assist contacts and communication with buyers.