MatchGrove
Founders: Thomas Bunyan & Anthony Santarelli
Website: http://www.MatchGrove.com
MatchGrove is a native tree and shrub growing incubator customized for the suburban and rural classroom. MatchGrove provides an indoor vivarium which includes all necessary components (minus water, electricity, and labor) to grow plants native to the school’s natural habitat. MatchGrove also provides step-by-step growth tutorials which are integrated with accredited grade and subject specific curriculum.
This curriculum (either web or print based) covers topics on biology and ecology, while emphasizing the important role every individual plays in preserving natural habitats and promoting a healthy planet.
After the seeds mature to the stage where they can be planted, they are sold to the community as a fund raising initiative. During the fund raising initiative, MatchGrove aids school districts with a brochure that highlights the importance of supporting education and local ecology. Compared to traditional fund raisers, MatchGrove empowers students to improve their education with a hands-on experience that benefits their environment. MatchGrove operates an online database that quantitatively displays the progress our initiative has made in preserving the local habitat and improving education. This database serves as an instrument to foster competition between classrooms, schools, communities, and larger geographical regions. MatchGrove is operated by Thomas Bunyan and Anthony Santarelli. Anthony Santarelli is a senior in Environmental Economics and Thomas Bunyan is a senior in Urban and Regional Planning.
