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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Planting Possibilities: New Accessible Garden Beds for All Students
When Aimee Sterk, Program Director at the Michigan Assistive Technology Program-Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, reached out asking if we had a need for handicapped-accessible raised beds, we eagerly accepted. In July, two raised beds were delivered to two of our Wyoming Public School gardens, Gladiola Elementary and West Elementary. Our students in wheelchairs will help […]
Soil Builders & Garden Friends
At North Godwin Elementary, the wind whipped around the schoolyard like it was trying to join the lesson—but the Team 21 scholars didn’t mind one bit. Today was all about worms, and not even the brisk breeze could stop the excitement. With magnifying glasses in hand, the class headed straight to the compost worm bin. […]
Aprons, Weather, and Peas: A H.O.P.E.-Filled Day of Learning
The day began in the classroom at Oriole Park Elementary, where students eagerly welcomed the H.O.P.E. Gardens team. Mrs. Smith led a lively lesson from Growing Healthy Habits on how different kinds of weather—like frost, drought, heat, or too much rain—can affect a garden. Students were all ears, recalling facts from past lessons and sharing […]
The Case of the Missing Dressing: A Great Garden Detective Adventure
It was a day full of mystery and flavor as students put on their detective hats for the Great Garden Detective Adventure! Their mission? To solve a recipe mystery and uncover the secret to a delicious, healthy meal. The adventure began with a lesson on the benefits of eating dark leafy greens—especially spinach. Students learned […]
Seeds, Seeds, Seeds, Seeds
By Kathy Bego, Garden Educator Seeds you could peel, pry open, and peer into with magnifying glasses—searching for the tiny leaves and roots hidden inside. Seed diagrams to color in: 🔴 Red for the seed coat 🟢 Green for the embryonic leaf 🟡 Yellow for the cotyledon food pack 🟤 Brown for the root A […]