Tracing Our Food’s Journey in January
In January, we were thrilled to be back in STEAM classrooms full-time. Across 62 classrooms, 1,160 students dug into learning about food sequencing and the many steps it takes to get food from the farm or garden to our table. Students compared the journey of corn to make cornflakes with that of a fresh ear […]
Team 21 Brings Winter to Life in the Greenhouse
In January, Team 21 students at Lee Middle bundled up in winter coats and hats and headed into the school greenhouse for a hands-on winter garden activity. Even while the garden rested outside, the greenhouse was full of energy and excitement. Students worked together to make pinecone bird feeders, spreading peanut butter, adding seeds, and […]
Growing Skills in Every Season at Empower U
Empower U, in partnership with our community, provides specialized instruction and opportunities that support employment readiness and independent living skills, helping young adults build purposeful and productive lives. For the past three years, we have had the privilege of bringing hands on garden classes to Empower U students, an experience that continues to be both […]
Godwin Middle School Students Connect Growing, Cooking, and Community at Godwin Mercado
The event was hosted by H.O.P.E. Gardens in partnership with TEAM 21 and community organizations, including The Søvengård, Mitten Floral, and Godwin Mercado. Together, partners created an immersive experience that helped students explore how food moves from the garden to the table. “The students see the growing side of the plants through the garden,” said […]
Seeds of Tomorrow
October was for seed harvesting and pumpkins in our fourteen school gardens across Wyoming. The air turned crisp, leaves tumbled through the playgrounds, and students learned the value of saving seeds for next year’s garden. They discovered that each seed holds the promise of a new beginning, carrying the memory of sunshine, soil, and care […]
Victory in the Garden: Where Kids and Soil Thrive
In October, H.O.P.E. Gardens welcomed a very special visitor to the Godfrey Elementary garden, Senator Roger Victory. For the past ten years, Roger has been donating pumpkins from his family farm, Victory Farms, a 1,300-acre operation in Hudsonville. This week, he finally got to see firsthand how those pumpkins and his support have helped our […]
Growing H.O.P.E. Together: A New Chapter Begins
We lost our greenhouse — but something beautiful is ready to grow. GIVE TODAY and help us reach our $30,000 goal! This fall, when Flowerland of Wyoming closed its doors, H.O.P.E. Gardens also lost the greenhouse space that helped us grow thousands of plants each year for students, schools, and families across West Michigan. Now, […]
A Special Visit from U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten
It was a beautiful morning in the West Elementary garden as U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten and her staff visited to see firsthand the impact of H.O.P.E. Gardens programs. We were grateful to have West Elementary teachers Mitch Dahlstrom, who also serves on our H.O.P.E. Gardens team and manages this garden, and STEAM teacher Regan Koontz […]
🥗 Fall in the Garden: Learning, Harvesting, and Tasting
This fall, our school gardens were buzzing with excitement as students rolled up their sleeves and experienced the full cycle of growing food. 🌿 🌻 Learning Garden SafetyBefore stepping into the beds, students learned the basics of garden safety—how to use tools carefully, why we wear gloves, and how to respect the plants (and each […]
Seeds of Summer: Growing, Learning, and Connecting in Our School Gardens
Did you know the largest tomato ever grown weighed a whopping 11.65 pounds? While we didn’t quite match that record this year, our school gardens were overflowing with big smiles, big discoveries, and big memories all summer long. This summer H.O.P.E. Gardens brought hands-on gardening and nutrition education to students and families across Wyoming Public […]