Learning About Worms

The kids got excited about digging for worms in our worm farm and learning about the important role worms play in garden soil. They learned that worms loosen soil by creating tunnels that make it easier for the roots of plants to stretch out and also allow rain and air into the soil. They fed […]

Recipe: Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients 1 cup watermelon chunks 1 cup pineapple chunks 1 cup grapes 1 cup strawberries 2 kiwi (peeled and cut in quarters) 6” bamboo skewers 1 cup light strawberry yogurt Directions Place fruit chunks on bamboo skewers. Place fruit kabobs on platter. Place yogurt in bowl. Serve kabobs with yogurt on the side. Source: USDA […]

Continuing Our Impact with Remote Lessons

We provided remote lessons with garden activity kits to more than 600 students at 13 schools each month this winter. The activities were enjoyed by leaders and students alike. In January, students were given a lesson on Seed Dispersal and then used seeds to create Pinecone Bird Feeders. Students had fun getting their hands into […]

Staff Spotlight: Meet Arthur Gardine!

This year, we transitioned from having students helping in the gardens to working with only staff and a few volunteers, and found we needed extra help.  In June, we hired our first youth employee, Arthur Gardine. Arthur first learned of H.O.P.E. Gardens when he was a 6th grade student at South Elementary. He helped install […]

Rising to the Challenge: Online Lessons & Garden Kits

Like most organizations, H.O.P.E. Gardens had to adjust to changes brought on by Covid-19. When we learned that some schools were going fully remote and outside organizations were restricted from offering their programs in person, we had a decision to make: could we adapt to this new challenge or should we wait out the storm? […]

Spreading H.O.P.E. During COVID-19

The state-wide closing of schools last March due to COVID-19 presented us with a challenge: How could we involve students in school garden planting when we were not able to work together in person? We also wanted to support students and families while under the stay-at-home order, so we decided that if the students couldn’t […]

“Whose Garden Is It?” Kids: “It’s Our Garden!”

“Whose garden is it?” Kids: “Our Garden!” This is near and dear to my heart! It has been such a privilege to spend time with kids and youth in gardens as we learn together how to grow food and try new things. This year we had some water challenges which gave youth the opportunity to […]

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