About the Strawberry Sprout Grant
As a woman-owned business, Strawberry Fields LLC wants to help and empower women in horticulture.
The Strawberry Sprout Grant was created to help fund and support women in the Northeast region of the United States who want to further their careers in horticulture.
Now in our 5th year, the $2,000 grant is designed to support women in the Northeast Region of the United States who are interested in pursuing a career in the horticulture world, specifically women creating new ideas,
projects and career goals in horticulture.
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For the first time, the 2026 grant has been awarded to two winners! Each winner receiving a total of $2,000.00 (a total of $4,000 in grant funding!)
Asma Yu
Winner of the 2026 Strawberry Sprout Grant
Asma is the owner of ASY Garden Design in Maryland. Her goal in horticulture is to create beautiful, ecologically responsible native gardens that support local biodiversity and sustainable stormwater management. Through her new small business, ASY Garden Design, she focuses on designing native gardens and rainscapes for small to medium spaces where thoughtful planting can make a meaningful environmental impact. She is particularly interested in helping homeowners in Montgomery County take advantage of local rainscape programs and rebates while transforming their yards into thriving, pollinator-friendly landscapes. Her long-term goal is to combine design, education, and hands-on horticulture to help upper Montgomery County, MD to adopt sustainable, nature-supporting landscapes.
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"I love the magical feeling of a beautiful garden and so in 2024, having bought my first home with a small townhouse yard, I wanted to create an ecologically beneficial native garden and grow herbs and vegetables. I am a creative soul whether it is making clothes, decorating my home or gardening, so when soul-sucking 9–5 job ended abruptly in summer 2024 after 10 years in the corporate world, it was time for me to take action on what truly fuels me: hands-on creativity, environmental stewardship, and meaningful impact."
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To see more of her work, visit asygardendesign.com
Teagan Gaeta
Winner of the 2026 Strawberry Sprout Grant
Teagan Gaeta is the owner of Urban Roots at Langwater Farm located in North Easton Massachusetts. She has owned and operated the farm for the past three + years, but her connection to horticulture began much earlier. She grew up on my grandfather’s farm in Alfred, Maine—Langwater Farm—where she was introduced to agriculture at a very young age. Some of her earliest memories are working in the hay fields as a toddler, learning the value of hard work and the importance of growing food for the community. Today, her farm is centered around community involvement and education. They grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and host events that bring people together around agriculture. A large part of their mission is teaching children where their food comes from and giving them hands-on experiences in growing and caring for plants. Through both farming and educational programming, Teagan has remained deeply connected to horticulture her entire life, continuing a family legacy while building something meaningful for the next generation.
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Her goals in the horticulture field are centered around community impact, education, and sustainability. She is passionate about spreading awareness of where food comes from and keeping agriculture alive for the next generation, especially by engaging local youth. Through her farm, she aims to expand hands-on learning opportunities, including 4-H programming, where children can gain real experience growing food, caring for the land, and understanding the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives.
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Horticulture inspires her because it connects people—to the land, to their food, and to each other. There is something incredibly powerful about planting a seed, nurturing it, and watching it grow into something that can feed a family or brighten someone’s day. It’s a constant reminder of patience, resilience, and the importance of caring for the world around us.
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Click here To see more of Teagan's work and Langwater Farms
Sponsors
The Strawberry Sprout Grant is thankful to have the following sponsors help support and further the vision of
the grant. Learn more about these amazing companies by visiting their websites below.
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Women (LGBTQS2+ friendly) who live and work in the Northeast region of the United States (Virginia to Maine)
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Are at least 18 years old
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Must hold a high school diploma or equivalent
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Must show an interest of actively pursuing this goal for at least 6 months. Examples include website, resume, or portfolio
Education Training Trade Tools Small Business Development Materials
Application Opens January 12, 2026
Applications Due March 31, 2026
This grant is open to women (LGBTQS2+ friendly) living and working in the Northeast region of the United States.
The grant committee considers many factors including but not limited to:
-Strength of application
-Opportunity to make a great impact on our local community and environment
-Unique and creative use of grant funding
Grantee will be notified through email by a member of the grant committee. One year after the awarding of the grant, the winner will be required to provide a one page report of how the grant funds were used, what they learned from their project, and overall thoughts on the grant program.
For additional questions please email strawberrygardendesign@gmail.com