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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Thursday Nights in the Garden: Growing Food, Families, and Friendships
Sun, Green, Heat, Weeds, Watering Cans, Laughter, Sweat, Radishes, Conversations, little kids, parents, Seeds, Peppers, Mint, teens, Spanish and English words all swirling together over fifteen garden beds for twenty, thirty, even forty minutes. It all then unwinds in departing footsteps, two by two, and slamming car doors as the sun slants lower and longer, […]
Carrot Detectives on the Case!
By Kathy Bego, Garden Educator This month, our 3rd and 4th graders put on their investigator caps to uncover the secrets of carrots! Like true detectives, they used their key sleuthing skills—curiosity, attention to detail, and perseverance—to explore this vibrant vegetable. 🔍 The Investigation Begins: Andrea guided older students through a colorful slide presentation, reintroducing […]
Planting Seeds of Health: Learning, Tasting, and Growing with H.O.P.E. Gardens
Outside, snow still blankets our school gardens! While the winter weather slowed things down outdoors, inside, students in 58 Wyoming and Godwin STEAM classrooms stayed busy learning about nutrition, gardening, and healthy eating with H.O.P.E. Gardens’ teachers. This month, first and second graders focused on “eating the rainbow,” discovering how different colored fruits and vegetables […]